Tag: George Kittle injury

49ers optimistic about George Kittle’s return vs. Packers

George Kittle back?

The San Francisco 49ers had to navigate Week 11 without All-Pro tight end George Kittle. It sounds like they may get him back in Week 12 when they visit the Green Bay Packers.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday spoke with reporters in a conference call and had a positive update on the superstar tight end who was out of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks because of a hamstring injury.

“He should practice on Wednesday,” Shanahan said. “I know it was close yesterday, so I think he should be good for practice on Wednesday.”

Kittle sustained what Shanahan called ‘hamstring irritation’ during the team’s Week 10 game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The head coach sounded optimistic in the lead up to Week 11 that Kittle would be able to play. The TE missed Wednesday’s practice before getting limited sessions in Thursday and Friday. He was officially questionable before getting ruled out 90 minutes before kickoff when the team announced its inactives.

The 49ers struggled on offense without Kittle. They averaged 4.9 yards per play in their least efficient outing of the year. In the passing game they badly missed Kittle as a safety valve and explosive play creator. Their longest pass play of the game was 22 yards and only Jauan Jennings had more than 27 receiving yards.

Urgency is even higher now for the 49ers after Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks, and getting a player like Kittle back for their showdown with the Packers would be a huge boost for an offense that needs it.

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George Kittle to miss practice, but injury update is good for 49ers

Good news on George Kittle.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday had some good news regarding tight end George Kittle.

Kittle injured his hamstring during the 49ers’ Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shanahan told reporters in a press conference before Wednesday’s practice that the All-Pro tight end wouldn’t take part in Wednesday’s session, but that the expectation was for him to return Thursday with a goal of playing Sunday.

Typically the 49ers’ offensive firepower is such that Kittle missing a game wouldn’t have been a huge deal. However, injuries to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and some struggles scoring touchdowns in the red zone have put outsized importance on Kittle as a pass catcher for San Francisco this year.

He’s the team’s leader in targets, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. It’s worth noting given the red zone issues that all seven of Kittle’s TDs this season have come from inside the opponent’s 20.

There’s always a chance that a hamstring injury can flare up and cause a setback. However, the early positive prognosis from Shanahan is a good sign for his chances of suiting up in a huge game against the Seattle Seahawks. Shanahan is usually mum on injury optimism early in the week.

Kittle had a big game in the 49ers’ first game against Seattle in Week 6 this season. He hauled in five receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

The 49ers and Seahawks are slated to kick off for the second time this year Sunday at 1:05pm Pacific Time from Levi’s Stadium.

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Is George Kittle playing this week? Injury updates for 49ers TE

George Kittle’s foot sprain could be a problem for the 49ers on Sunday.

The San Francisco 49ers injury issues don’t stop at wide receiver.

With Brandon Aiyuk out and Deebo Samuel dealing with pneumonia, tight end George Kittle figured to be a significant piece of San Francisco’s offensive attack Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. With Aiyuk and Samuel out for most of Week 7, Kittle racked up team-highs in targets (seven), receptions (six) and receiving yards (92). Unfortunately for the 49ers, he also sustained a foot sprain that has his status in question for Week 8.

George Kittle injury update

Kittle’s foot sprain kept him out of practice Wednesday. He was limited Thursday and Friday and will officially be questionable against the Cowboys. That he was able to participate in the last two days of practice bodes well for his chances. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday said he was hoping the injury wouldn’t keep Kittle out of Sunday’s game, but he didn’t improve enough during the week to be listed without a designation.

San Francisco not elevating undrafted rookie TE Mason Pline from the practice squad could be a sign the team feels good about Kittle’s status.

How long will George Kittle be out?

It doesn’t appear the foot sprain is anything major given that Kittle was back on the field for two days of practice ahead of Week 8. If he can’t go Sunday, he’ll have the 49ers’ Week 9 Bye to recover before the team travels to Tampa Bay in Week 10. It stands to reason he’ll be back for that Week 10 game at the latest if he doesn’t deal with any setbacks.

San Francisco 49ers TE depth chart

The 49ers are not particularly strong at tight end, which adds some urgency to Kittle’s injury situation.

Eric Saubert
Jake Tonges
Brayden Willis

Saubert filled in against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3 when Kittle was out, but he’s more of a blocker than a pass catcher. Tonges has only played 25 offensive snaps this season, and Willis has only been active for one game and played four offensive snaps.

Pline is the only internal depth option and he’s yet to play in an NFL game.

Trey McBride, George Kittle injury update, availability in Week 5 Cardinals vs. 49ers

ESPN’s Adam Schefter gives an update about whether or not Trey McBride and George Kittle will play in Week 5.

The top tight ends for both the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers enter the Week 5 divisional showdown between the two teams questionable to play.

Both are expected to play, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

McBride returns to the lineup after missing the Cardinals’ 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 4. He was out with a concussion. He cleared concussion protocol at the end of the week and had no injury destination on the final injury report of the week, but was downgraded Saturday when an injury to his ribs came up.

In three games this season, McBride has 14 receptions for 122 yards.

Kittle was also questionable to play with a rib injury. He is also expected to suit up. He has missed one game this season. In three games played, he has 15 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cardinals and 49ers kick off from Levi’s Stadium at 1:05 p.m. Arizona time.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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49ers head coach confident team can replace All-Pro TE vs. Rams

George Kittle is doubtful vs. the Rams, which opens the door for a backup TE to carve out a bigger role.

One of the slew of injury problems facing the 49ers in Week 3 wasn’t one they anticipated having entering the week.

Tight end George Kittle got through Week 2 without issue, and was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice leading up to a Week 3 showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

Then he started experiencing hamstring soreness after Wednesday’s session, leading him to miss Thursday and Friday before receiving a ‘doubtful’ designation for Sunday’s contest.

While losing an All-Pro TE isn’t optimal, head coach Kyle Shanahan in a press conference Friday expressed confidence in Kittle’s backup, Eric Saubert.

“I thought he’s done a hell of a job,” Shanahan said. “He’s stepped in well. Kittle was cramping most of the game, so he had to do a lot throughout the Minnesota game. He’s been real consistent since he’s been here. If he’s got to do it all, he’s up for the challenge. He’s shown he can help us in the passing and the run game.”

Saubert played 26 snaps in Minnesota – seven more than he played in the season opener against the New York Jets. That was also the most snaps he’s played in a game since Week 15 of the 2022 season when he was with the Denver Broncos.

Pro Football Focus gave Saubert a 73.2 overall grade for his game in Minnesota, which included two receptions for 26 yards. That was his most productive statistical game since Week 17 of the 2022 campaign.

Ideally the 49ers won’t need to navigate life without Kittle for long. This is a good opportunity for Saubert to step in and potentially carve out a larger role once Kittle is back. If he can produce as a run blocker and prove to be a viable pass-catching threat, we may see San Francisco utilize him more with Kittle once the All-Pro TE returns.

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