A Week 1 hamstring injury is expected to sideline tight end George Kittle for a few games, so the 49ers have opted to place him on injured reserve and open up a roster spot, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Kittle, 31 will be sidelined for a minimum of four games, making him eligible to return for San Francisco’s Week 6 visit to Tampa Bay. It’s another blow to a 49ers offense that started the season without wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee, PUP), Demarcus Robinson (suspension), and Jacob Cowing (hamstring, IR with a return designation). Robinson will be eligible to return in Week 4, while Aiyuk and Cowing will be out until at least Week 5.
The 49ers then saw Kittle and Jauan Jennings exit their regular season opener with Brock Purdy playing through shoulder and toe injuries to finish the game. Initial tests on Jennings’ shoulder indicated that his injury is not serious, but Kyle Shanahan was noncommittal about Purdy’s Week 2 status.
Kittle’s absence will lead to more opportunities for backup tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges. Both saw more playing time after Kittle exited Sunday’s game with Tonges bringing in a tough contested catch for the game-winning touchdown. Practice squad tight end Brayden Willis will likely be promoted to the 53-man roster, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.
This is Kittle’s first IR placement since 2021. He missed five games due to minor injuries over the last three years, but finished each season healthy. The nine-year veteran is coming off his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl season, which included 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, both the second-best marks of his career. He also posted career highs with 11.8 yards per target and an 83.0% catch rate. In Week 1, he caught four passes for 25 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.
Unfortunate. One of the leagues best players.
You meant to say most overrated player in the league…2TDs in 12 playoff appearances. Pffft.
Is he overrated or are you cherry-picking a stat to try to make him look bad? He’s 16th in all-time tight end receptions and everyone ahead of him has played at least 20 more games. He’s 8 yards away from being 13th all-time in tight end receiving yards, and again, will have played many fewer games than those ahead of him. And all of this while playing in one of the lowest volume passing attacks in football and being a very good blocker. He’s been a great player.
just brutal
Damn
This is a confusing sentence: “The 49ers then saw Kittle and Jauan Jennings exit their regular season opener with Brock Purdy playing through shoulder and toe injuries to finish the game.” Who has a shoulder injury? Who has a toe injury? Is Brock Purdy injured or was he added to the sentence for no particular reason?
Purdy has a toe and shoulder issue currently
Thanks