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The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up the week of practice in Week 16 with a number of players ruled out of their game against the Arizona Cardinals. They will, though, be getting back one of the best players on the team.
Tight end George Kittle, out since Week 8 with a fractured bone in his foot, will be reactivated from injured reserve and will be in the lineup against Arizona.
“He looked great this week,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan to reporters on Friday. “He said he felt good after practice, so I’m expecting him to go.”
Some have wondered whether it is worth it to have him go out and play this season, risking an injury. Shanahan downplayed that, noting that he is healthy and also in better shape than a number of players who have been playing.
“He’s had two good weeks of practice and feels great after it,” he said. “We wouldn’t put him out at all if there was any risk of reinjuring this or he wasn’t healed.”
Kittle has played in only six games this season, catching 37 passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns.
In the season opener when the Cardinal defeated San Francisco 24-20 in Week 1, Kittle caught four passes for 44 yards in the first half before leaving with a knee injury.
Kittle will be a boost to the offense. The Niners will be without quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Mullens, lead running back Raheem Mostert and No. 1 receiver Deebo Samuel.
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