Somehow George Kittle only needs rest in the offseason and avoided any kind of surgical procedure.
The tight end told reporters Wednesday during the team’s locker clean out that he won’t undergo any surgery in the offseason despite a torn labrum in his shoulder, and knee and ankle injuries that ailed him all year after taking a helmet to the knee on the first play of the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Cardinals.
The knee and ankle injuries kept him out for two weeks, and didn’t appear to hamper him once he returned. He still earned a First-Team All-Pro nod, was named the best player in football by Pro Football Focus, and nearly surpassed his production from his record-setting 2018 season.
His torn labrum came in 2018 when he dislocated his shoulder at an unknown time. The shoulder injury first became public during Kittle’s appearance on the Barstool Sports podcast ‘Pardon My Take.’
Kittle told the hosts of the podcasts that he wouldn’t undergo surgery because he couldn’t miss any workout dates during the offseason.
The shoulder injury is the most major one he’s dealing with, although it doesn’t appear to be hampering him. He’s amassed 173 catches, 2,430 yards and 10 touchdowns across 30 games the last two seasons.
Kittle was the best, most versatile tight end in the league even with a rash of injuries. A more healthy version of him in Year 4 might help establish him as one of the best tight ends of all-time.