George Kittle

49ers Activate TE George Kittle From IR

October 18th, 2025 at 3:22pm CST by Ely Allen

As the 49ers say goodbye to one star, they’ll welcome another. Opening a spot on the 53-man roster by officially placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve, San Francisco will fill it with the activation of tight end George Kittle from IR. Kittle is joined as an IR activation by defensive tackle Kevin Givens.

After suffering a full tear of his right hamstring in a Week 1 win over the Seahawks, Kittle sat out five games – the second-highest total of his career. The six-time Pro Bowler will return to an offense that will go without starting quarterback Brock Purdy for the third straight game. With Purdy dealing with a toe injury, Mac Jones will lead the 4-2 Niners against the 3-2 Falcons on Sunday.

The multi-game absences of Kittle and Purdy have been among several injury-related setbacks for San Francisco’s offense this year. The defense also hasn’t been spared. Star pass rusher Nick Bosa went down with a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3. The unit took a similarly brutal shot when Warner dislocated and fractured his ankle in a loss to the Buccaneers last week. The four-time Pro Bowler underwent surgery and will miss the rest of the regular season. A playoff return for Warner is an extreme long shot.

With Warner out of commission, Tatum Bethune will face a gargantuan task in replacing one of the game’s preeminent defenders. Bethune, a seventh-round pick in 2024, has only made one start in 17 career games. Out of 134 snaps this year, just 48 have come on defense. Bethune has otherwise worked on special teams.

While San Francisco’s defense has lost Warner, it’s getting some D-line depth back with Givens set to make his season debut. Givens hasn’t played in 2025 as a result of a pectoral injury. The seventh-year 49er totaled 3.5 sacks and six QB hits in eight games last season.

In addition to the IR transactions, San Francisco announced that defensive end Trevis Gipson has been signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Joining him for the weekend as standard gameday practice squad elevations will be wide receiver Malik Turner and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj. To make room for Gipson on the active roster, the 49ers waived tight Brayden Willis.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

49ers To Activate George Kittle, Rule Out Brock Purdy

October 17th, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy for Week 7, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, meaning that Mac Jones will make his fifth start of the season.

Purdy was still limited in practice this week due to a re-aggravation of his toe injury. Jones, meanwhile, progressed to full participation despite dealing with knee and oblique injuries. He has led the 49ers to a 3-1 record in his four starts with a league-high 313 passing yards per game.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan also said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that tight end George Kittle would be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s game, ending his four-game absence due to a Week 1 hamstring injury. Kittle is not expected to be on any kind of snap count, according to Tafur.

San Francisco created the space for Kittle’s activation on Friday by placing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve, per Wagoner. The eight-year veteran will now be on the shelf for at least four games with a calf injury and becomes the latest 49ers wideout to miss time. Ricky Pearsall has been out for the last two games with a knee issue that will sideline him for Sunday’s contest as well. Jacob Cowing is on IR, though Shanahan said (via Wagoner) that he is “getting close” to returning to practice. Jauan Jennings has missed two games and played through four others with a litany of injuries. That’s not even mentioning Brandon Aiyuk, who will not be back until November at the earliest.

Kittle’s return will obviously go a long way in relieving the pressure on the 49ers’ injured receiving corps. Backup tight end Jake Tonges has performed well in his absence, giving Shanahan the options of using more two-tight end formations until the rest of his offense gets healthier.

Shanahan also said that defensive tackle Kevin Givens will “most likely” be activated from IR as well, which would add depth to a defensive line that has also dealt with a number of injuries this year. The 49ers can easily create a roster spot for Givens by placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve after an ankle injury that is expected to end his season.

Mac Jones Likely To Start Week 7; George Kittle Plans To Return

October 16th, 2025 at 9:51pm CST by Connor Byrne

It appears 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones will make his third straight start in place of Brock Purdy in Week 7. While Jones has been dealing with knee and oblique issues, he was able to practice in full on Thursday. With Purdy limited because of a nagging toe injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Jones will “most likely” start against the Falcons on Sunday (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).

After playing 31 of a possible 34 regular-season games from 2023-24, Purdy has already sat out four times this year. He started a season-opening win over the Seahawks and a Week 4 loss to the Jaguars. The offseason decision to sign Jones, a former Patriot and Jaguar, has helped the injury-plagued 49ers stay afloat during a 4-2 start.

While Jones struggled in a loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday, the 49ers have gone 3-1 with him at the helm. The 27-year-old has connected on 67.3% of passes for 1,252 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Jones’ success has come without six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, who’s among the Niners’ many walking wounded, but that could change Sunday. Kittle suffered a right hamstring injury in Week 1 – a “full tear,” he revealed – leading the 49ers to place him on IR. After missing five consecutive games, Kittle returned to practice on Wednesday. He took part in his second limited session in a row Thursday and expressed confidence about his chances of facing the Falcons.

“I fully plan on playing on Sunday,” Kittle said, though he acknowledged that Shanahan will make the call (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com).

While Jones may count Kittle among his weapons for the first time on Sunday, he could go without wide receiver Ricky Pearsall again. After missing San Francisco’s past two games with a knee injury, the second-year man has not returned to practiced this week.

49ers Open George Kittle’s Practice Window

October 15th, 2025 at 3:09pm CST by Connor Byrne

Star tight end George Kittle has been on IR since Sept. 9, but he’s finally nearing a return. The 49ers opened Kittle’s practice window on Wednesday, according to Clayton Holloway of NFL Network. They’ll have 21 days to activate him.

Kittle, who suffered a hamstring injury in a Week 1 win over the Seahawks, will practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones will join Kittle as limited participants (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic).

Purdy, out back-to-back games with a toe injury, is viewed as more limited than Jones. While Jones is battling knee and oblique issues, he could make his third straight start Sunday against the Falcons.

Kittle has already missed five games this season, which is the second-highest total of his nine-year career. The six-time Pro Bowler entered 2025 off four consecutive seasons of at least 14 games played. He continued to thrive during a 15-game slate in 2024, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns.

The 49ers were likely expecting more of the same from Kittle this season. Instead, he has been among many high-profile injury casualties for the club. San Francisco’s offense has gotten one appearance from Kittle, two from Purdy, and none from receiver Brandon Aiyuk. On the other side of the ball, the team has seen heart-and-soul defenders Fred Warner and Nick Bosa go down with season-ending injuries in recent weeks. Despite that, the 49ers have gotten off to a 4-2 start.

Without Kittle, the 49ers have turned to the little-known Jake Tonges as their primary tight end. To Tonges’ credit, he has done well filling in for Kittle. He entered the season with no catches over four games (all with Chicago in 2022), but Tonges has racked up 25 receptions, 34 targets, 224 yards, and three scores in six contests this year. He’ll serve as a solid No. 2 option at tight end when Kittle is back in the lineup, perhaps as early as this week.

The 49ers could also get Aiyuk back soon, which will further bolster their offense down the stretch as they vie for a playoff berth. Facing a fellow NFC postseason contender this week in the 3-2 Falcons, the 49ers may again have to overcome a Purdy absence. After signing a five-year, $265MM contract extension in the offseason, Purdy has been sidelined for most of 2025. Jones has held his own as a fill-in, but thanks in part to his own injury troubles, he struggled in a loss to the Buccaneers in Week 6.

49ers’ George Kittle Has Chance At Week 7 Return; November Reemergence Targeted For Brandon Aiyuk

October 14th, 2025 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Once again battered by injuries, the 49ers have still managed to reach 4-2 despite a spree of setbacks for the second straight season. Pro Bowlers Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Nick Bosa have missed time, and the Fred Warner loss deals a blow the team has not previously encountered.

On the team amid the 2020 and 2024 injury waves, Warner has missed one career game. The All-Pro linebacker has crafted a Hall of Fame-caliber resume during the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan-era surge, but he will undergo surgery Wednesday and joins Bosa in being out for the season. The 49ers are eyeing trades on defense, but their offense is starting to look healthier (even if Jauan Jennings is playing through a significant rib injury).

While Purdy’s status remains murky, Kittle is nearing a return. Shanahan does expect (via 49ers reporter Briana Jeannel) the All-Pro tight end will be designated for return from IR ahead of the Falcons matchup. This would allow the 49ers a ramp-up period, but Shanahan added (via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco) the hope is Kittle returns for Week 7.

Although the 49ers’ injury trouble is again mounting, they are not in bad shape yet in terms of IR activations. The team has either seen key players suffer season-ending injuries (Bosa, Warner) or remain on the active roster in week-to-week setups (Purdy, Jennings, Ricky Pearsall). The 49ers did place starting guard Ben Bartch on IR, and he is eligible for activation this week. It is uncertain if Bartch will join Kittle in being designated for return.

Kittle went down with a hamstring injury in Week 1. The likely Hall of Fame-bound pass catcher suited up for 15 games last season and did not miss any time due to injury in 2023. Playing in at least 14 games in 2021 and ’22, Kittle has not missed this much time in a season since being part of the 49ers’ spate of maladies in 2020. He missed eight games that season, suffering a sprained knee and fractured foot during San Francisco’s 6-10 season.

With Pearsall on the active roster, the 49ers are moving closer to full strength after seeing both their top two receivers go down early this season. San Francisco’s true No. 1 receiver, however, remains on the reserve/PUP list. Brandon Aiyuk‘s timetable has been pushed back a bit. Week 6 was floated months ago as a loose return window, but that has come and gone. Shanahan has now mentioned Week 10 as an updated window (via Maiocco) but stopped short of providing a firm timetable.

Out since October 20, 2024 with an ACL tear, Aiyuk has been in rehab mode after the tear was not deemed clean. Joining Kittle in suffering an injury shortly after an offseason extension, Aiyuk has been unable to build on the second-team All-Pro season he produced in 2023. John Lynch said in late September the sixth-year veteran was “not close” returning, but Shanahan’s update does provide a semi-positive sign a reemergence near the midseason point is still in play.

Like the IR-return process, the 49ers would have a 21-day period to observe Aiyuk in practice before activating him. Given the length of Aiyuk’s rehab process, it would surprise if he suited up the week he was designated for return. It should be expected, based on this timeline, Aiyuk would be in the PUP-return window soon. But the 49ers will continue to make do with a ravaged receiver depth chart for the time being. Though, Kittle’s return will help the passing attack considerably while Aiyuk hits the recovery homestretch.

Latest On 49ers’ Injuries

October 3rd, 2025 at 8:04pm CST by Ely Allen

San Francisco is one of a few teams that have been bitten especially hard by the injury bug this season. Luckily, they’ve avoided the injury to their star running back that had everyone worried about to start the year, but in a crucial divisional matchup last night, the 49ers’ injury report ruled out five players, including the starting quarterback and three wide receivers.

San Francisco was able to pull out a victory in last night’s game despite the team that’s taken so many hits thus far taking a few more in Los Angeles. The successful trip saw injuries sustained by defensive tackles Kalia Davis, Yetur Gross-Matos, and rookie Alfred Collins, as well as rookie cornerback Upton Stout, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The only one who appears to have gotten off easy is Stout, who avoided a high ankle sprain, just suffered a regular ankle sprain, and is currently day-to-day.

Davis, on the other hand, will require surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the procedure was scheduled to take place today. There’s some thought that Davis could potentially miss as few as two games. As a defensive lineman, Davis doesn’t have too much use for the gripping mechanic of that appendage in a game, and some expect him to return to play with a club cast on his hand.

Gross-Matos had just come off his only full practice of the week as he worked his way back from a knee injury. While the knee seemingly held up last night, Gross-Matos is now set to miss time with a hamstring strain, which could mean a multi-week absence. The rookie, Collins, suffered a sprained knee. With the Thursday Night Football matchup allowing for a bit more time to recover before their next game, Collins may stand a chance at not missing time, depending on the severity of the sprain.

Lastly, while we knew that star tight end George Kittle would be eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 6 after being placed on list after the season opener, we’ve finally received some insight on a more specific timeline. Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, head coach Kyle Shanahan informed the media that Kittle likely will not be able to make it back until at least Week 7. At best, this will limit the veteran in-line pass catcher to a five-game absence.

49ers To Place George Kittle On IR

September 9th, 2025 at 12:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

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.

49ers’ George Kittle To Miss Multiple Weeks

September 8th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

While the 49ers escaped Week 1 with a victory, it wasn’t all positive news for the organization. George Kittle exited yesterday’s win in the first half after suffering a hamstring injury, and it sounds like the veteran tight end will miss a handful of games. While speaking with reporters today, coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle will miss some time as he recovers from the injury (per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner).

While Shanahan indicated that his star TE will miss multiple weeks, he wouldn’t commit to Kittle landing on injured reserve (via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has a more definitive timeline for the Pro Bowler, as a source indicated that Kittle would miss between three and five weeks. That timeline would make the player a prime candidate for IR.

While injuries were a theme early in Kittle’s career, the tight end has remained relatively healthy recently. Since being limited to eight games in 2020, the veteran has missed eight total contests over the past four years. He’s also continued to produce as he passed his age-30 season; after finishing the 2023 campaign with 1,022 yards, Kittle compiled 1,106 yards during the 2024 season. He seemed to pick up where he left off to start 2025, as he found the end zone to cap off San Francisco’s first offensive possession.

With Kittle out of the lineup, the 49ers will turn to Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tonges made the most noise yesterday, hauling in three receptions, including the eventual game-winning touchdown.

The injuries don’t stop there. Shanahan revealed that quarterback Brock Purdy is dealing with both a shoulder and toe injury, with the coach stating “we’ll see” when asked about the player’s status for Week 2 (per Wagoner). Shanahan said the toe issue is more serious than the shoulder issue, and the team will use the upcoming week to evaluate the quarterback’s progress. If Purdy isn’t able to go against the Saints, Mac Jones would draw the start.

Finally, receiver Jauan Jennings was sidelined yesterday thanks to a shoulder injury. Shanahan told reporters that the team is still awaiting imaging on the wideout, although initial tests indicated that the player should be okay (per Wagoner). With Brandon Aiyuk out to start the season and Deebo Samuel no longer on the squad, the 49ers were going to be especially reliant on Jennings to begin the 2025 season. The 28-year-old hauled in a pair of catches for 16 yards before exiting yesterday’s game.

TE George Kittle Addresses 49ers Extension

July 11th, 2025 at 4:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

George Kittle landed another 49ers extension this offseason, and he is now tied to the team through 2029. The All-Pro tight end did not enjoy an entirely smooth process during negotiations, but he is satisfied to be in position to finish his career in San Francisco.

When reflecting on his pact – a four-year, $76.4MM deal – Kittle informed ESPN’s Nick Wagoner it would be “fair to say” team and player dealt with an initial dispute over his value. The 31-year-old’s previous pact carried an average annual value of $15MM, but his new one checks in at $19.1MM in compensation per year. That means he is once again the league’s top earner amongst tight ends.

Amidst uncertainty over his future, Kittle drew trade interest from at least one team just before April’s draft. An offer of a second-round pick was rejected, and shortly after the draft concluded the extension was in place. As a result, Kittle is set to remain a focal point on offense in 2025 and beyond.

“It’s somewhere that I want to be for as long as I possibly can be because I go to work every single morning and I look up and I’m walking into Levi’s Stadium as my office,” the six-time Pro Bowler said. “I am just so beyond lucky and I am so happy to be able to be here for longer.”

Kittle has spent his entire career with the 49ers, and when healthy he has been a critical member of the team’s offense. The Iowa product has topped 1,000 yards four times in eight seasons; his 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns from 2024 were the second-highest total of his career. Remaining available should allow Kittle to continue producing as one of the league’s best at his position for years to come.

As the 49ers look to bounce back from last season’s underwhelming campaign, they will do so without Deebo Samuel at the receiver spot. Brandon Aiyuk is a strong candidate to miss the first four games of the season, so especially early on in the campaign Kittle’s level of play will be key. If he manages to remain productive during that period and beyond, more deep postseason runs could be in store over the length of his latest contract.

NFC West Notes: Rams, Kittle, Hawks, Cards

May 14th, 2025 at 10:45am CST by Sam Robinson

Tyler Higbee has been the Rams‘ top tight end for many years, dating back to the team’s separation from Gerald Everett in 2021. Higbee, however, is now in Year 10 and coming off a three-game season. The Rams have attempted to install an heir apparent on multiple occasions, most notably failing in an attempt to trade up for Brock Bowers last year. Los Angeles then was tied to an effort to move up for Colston Loveland last month, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the team did discuss trades with teams holding top-10 picks.

Once Loveland went to the Bears at 10, the Rams regrouped and traded down, picking up a 2026 first-rounder (from the Falcons) to do so. Upon leaving Round 1, however, the Rams eyed the next wave of tight ends in this draft. Both Mason Taylor (LSU) and Terrance Ferguson (Oregon) were on the team’s radar, per Fowler, who notes Ferguson was rated higher despite Taylor going to the Jets four spots earlier. The Rams have Ferguson (591 receiving yards in 2024) readying to become the Higbee heir apparent.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

Ferguson is unlikely to unseat George Kittle as the NFC West’s top tight end anytime soon, as the 49ers extended their All-Pro dynamo recently. San Francisco’s four-year, $76.4MM deal includes $35MM guaranteed at signing. Beyond fully guaranteed money in 2025 and ’26, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes $2MM of Kittle’s 2027 pay ($17.15MM) is locked in at signing. The 49ers have also dived into the option bonus game, which will help keep Kittle’s cap hits under $19MM until 2029. Kittle can unlock $5MM more in 2027 guarantees by being a 2026 Pro Bowler or landing on the All-Pro first or second team that year; reaching a number of statistical benchmarks that year also could allow Kittle to cash in on that $5MM 2027 bump, Florio adds.
Sam Darnold‘s three-year, $100.5MM Seahawks contract became classified as a pay-as-you-go pact, and ESPN’s Brady Henderson provided an important detail here. Seattle gave Darnold a $15MM roster bonus, but it is not due until February 13 — five days after Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks can cut bait during that window, reminding of the Raiders’ 2023 Derek Carr divorce, if the Darnold partnership does not pan out. Seattle would still pick up a $25.6MM dead money hit (due to signing bonus proration) by cutting Darnold after one season.
DC Aden Durde pushed for Rylie Mills in Round 5 (via the pick obtained in the Sam Howell trade), but the Seahawks will wait a bit to see the Day 3 D-lineman in action. A torn ACL sustained in December is expected to keep the Notre Dame product out until at least midseason, John Schneider said (via Henderson). A late-season return is also in play for a player who will be more of a long-term option in Seattle.
Not rostering a fullback in many years, the Seahawks had planned to add one to work in Klint Kubiak‘s offense. They did so in the draft, as Schneider confirmed (via Henderson) Alabama tight end Robbie Ouzts — a fifth-round pick — will begin his career at fullback. The 274-pound SEC product will compete with Brady Russell, who has played 26 Seahawks games (zero starts) since arriving in September 2023.
A former South Carolina defensive back, Landon Grier made an early foray into the NFL scouting ranks. The Cardinals hired him straight out of college to be a scouting assistant. The son of Dolphins GM Chris Grier, Landon is not expected back with the Cards in 2025, with InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton noting the younger Grier is on track to return to the college ranks for a personnel role.
The 49ers are also parting ways with a scouting staffer, with Stratton adding Michael Zyskowski is moving on after three years with the franchise. Late spring regularly serves as a point teams reshuffle scouting staffs, as contracts usually run through the draft in an effort to ensure continuity ahead of the event.

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