49ers' George Kittle: Status in question for Saturday
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Kittle (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game versus the Seahawks, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle has been tending to a mid-to-low ankle sprain that sidelined him Week 17 against the Bears, but after logging back-to-back limited sessions to kick off Week 18 prep and then telling Vic Tafur of The Athletic on Wednesday that he "absolutely" expects to play this weekend, he appears to be trending in the right direction to suit up. Ultimately, Kittle's status will be confirmed about 90 minutes before an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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49ers' George Kittle: Stays limited at practice
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Kittle (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Kittle missed the 49ers' Week 17 win against the Bears due to a mid-to-low ankle sprain that he suffered one week prior at Indianapolis. He maintained his activity level from Tuesday, and GM John Lynch relayed to Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News on Wednesday that Kittle and other key 49ers were trending toward suiting up Saturday versus the Seahawks. Kittle himself told Vic Tafur of The Athletic that he "absolutely" expects to play this weekend, but Thursday's injury report will reveal whether or not he has a designation for Week 18 action.
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49ers' George Kittle: Trending in right direction
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San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Wednesday that Kittle (ankle) is trending in the right direction to suit up Saturday night versus the Seahawks, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle wasn't able to practice in any capacity prior to being ruled out to face the Bears in Week 17, but he managed to get in limited on-field reps during Tuesday's session. Barring any setbacks, the standout tight end looks on track to return to action versus Seattle on Saturday, though it remains to be seen whether he'll be officially assigned an injury designation on Thursday's practice report. Kittle's status will be crucial for Brock Purdy and the 49ers' offense, as the victor of Saturday's showdown will not only win the NFC West but also the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC.
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49ers' George Kittle: Will be limited Tuesday
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Kittle (ankle) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Kittle sat out all three of the 49ers' practices last week due to a left ankle sprain before ultimately missing this past Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears. His return to the field Tuesday would seem to give Kittle a decent chance of returning for Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Seahawks. In Kittle's absence against Chicago, Jake Tonges played 69 percent of the offensive snaps and produced a useful 7-60-1 receiving line on nine targets.
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49ers' George Kittle: Officially inactive in Week 17
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Kittle (ankle) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Bears, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
Kittle came out of last Monday's win at Indianapolis with a mid-to-low ankle sprain, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The health concern didn't allow Kittle to practice in any capacity during Week 17 prep, with GM John Lynch (via KNBR San Francisco) and coach Kyle Shanahan (per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com) implying Friday that the veteran tight end's status would come down to a game-time decision. Adam Schefter of ESPN then reported Sunday morning that Kittle was "highly unlikely" to suit up, and his lack of availability now has been confirmed. Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell will split TE duties in Kittle's absence, with the former more likely to contribute as a pass catcher.
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49ers' George Kittle: Likely to be game-time decision
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San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Friday that the status of Kittle (ankle) for Sunday night's game against the Bears will likely be a game-dime decision, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle was listed as a non-participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday's injury report will both reveal whether he was able to get on the field as at least a limited participant, and his official injury diagnosis for Week 17. That said, it seems likely that Kittle will garner a 'questionable' designation for Sunday Night Football. The star tight end's status will be made official, one way or another, no later than 90 minutes before Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. Jake Tonges will stand to operate as San Francisco's top pass-catching tight end in the event that Kittle is ruled out, presenting fantasy managers with a potential pivot option.
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49ers' George Kittle: Remains DNP on Thursday
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Kittle (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's injury report, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle now has gone down as a DNP on both the 49ers' practice reports since he left Monday's win at Indianapolis in the third quarter due to a left ankle injury and wasn't able to return. He's reportedly dealing with a mid-to-low ankle sprain, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, and Kittle has one more chance to mix into drills Friday before San Francisco potentially makes a ruling on his status for Sunday's game against the Bears. Jake Tonges would be the favorite to step into a pass-catching role among the team's remaining tight ends if Kittle is inhibited or sidelined Week 17.
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49ers' George Kittle: No practice Wednesday
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle (ankle) won't practice Wednesday but "has a chance" to play Sunday against the Bears, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle was tackled awkwardly on his seventh and final catch in the middle of the third quarter of Monday's win at Indianapolis and wasn't able to return. Shanahan told Wagoner afterward that it was too early to touch on the severity of Kittle's ankle injury before Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Tuesday that Kittle was tending to a mid-to-low ankle sprain. Kittle doesn't necessarily need to practice in order to be active Sunday against the Bears, but his chances to play Week 17 would increase if he's able to mix into drills at some point Thursday or Friday. Jake Tonges likely would step into the pass-catching role in the 49ers offense if Kittle isn't able to suit up this weekend.
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49ers' George Kittle: Avoids high-ankle sprain
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Kittle was diagnosed with a low-to-mid-grade left ankle sprain following an MRI on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
After he was forced out of Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts in the middle of the third quarter with the injury, Kittle said that he believed that he had avoided a high-ankle sprain, and follow-up tests have confirmed that's indeed the case. Though he isn't facing a long-term injury, the star tight end could still be at risk of missing a game Sunday versus the Bears that has important playoff-positioning implications at stake. Before departing late in the third quarter Monday, Kittle still delivered for his fantasy managers, posting seven catches for a season-high 115 yards and a touchdown on eight targets.
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49ers' George Kittle: Severity of ankle injury TBD
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San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said after Monday's 48-27 win against the Colts that it's too early to know the severity of Kittle's ankle injury, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle missed all of the fourth quarter and some of the third due to the ankle issue, and the outcome of the contest wasn't certain until late, so it appears there's at least some chance the star tight end will miss next Sunday's game against Chicago. With that said, further evaluation is needed to determine how serious of an issue Kittle is dealing with, and he will likely do everything he can to play next week given that there is a lot at stake for San Francisco against the Bears. Despite his early exit Monday, Kittle did plenty for fantasy managers who started him, amassing 115 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Jake Tonges was effective as the 49ers' pass-catching tight end following Kittle's departure and would be a viable fantasy asset in Week 17 if Kittle is forced to sit out.
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49ers' George Kittle: Leading receiver on MNF
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Kittle finished with six receptions (on 10 targets) for 78 yards in Monday's 20-9 victory over the Panthers.
Kittle finished Monday's primetime tilt as the game's leading receiver off a season-high 10 targets. The 31-year-old has really found his groove since going catchless in his return from a hamstring injury Week 7, providing fantasy managers with a 29-304-4 receiving line over his last five starts. Kittle may be asked to utilize his elite blocking skills more than usual Week 13 in order to help the offensive line deal with the unstoppable force that is DE Myles Garrett when the 49ers visit the Browns on Sunday.
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49ers' George Kittle: Carries over hot play from Week 10
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Kittle hauled in all six of his targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 41-22 rout of the Cardinals.
Kittle welcomed back starting quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) with literal open arms, getting wide open in the end zone on two separate occasions. The talented duo picked up right where it left off when the teammates last played together back in Week 1, when Kittle hit pay dirt before suffering a hamstring injury that would land the tight end on injured reserve. The 31-year-old Kittle was already coming off of a season-best performance against the Rams in Week 10 (9-84-1), with Sunday's two-score day officially putting the fantasy stud on a hot streak. Kittle will attempt to one-up himself against the Panthers under the bright lights of Monday Night Football in Week 12.
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49ers' George Kittle: Best fantasy game this season
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Kittle secured all nine of his targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-26 loss to the Rams.
It took a one-sided loss to do it, but Kittle finally produced the kind of stat line managers were hoping for when selecting the tight end early in drafts. The star tight end has chipped in with three touchdown catches across five active games, with Sunday's output marking the first time he surpassed four receptions or 43 receiving yards. The injury-riddled 49ers may need to rely on Kittle's receiving abilities in order to remain a threat down the stretch.
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49ers' George Kittle: Commemorates 'holiday' with TD
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Kittle brought in four of five targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' 26-15 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
Kittle commemorated the National Tight End Day quasi-holiday he helped bring about by recording his second touchdown of the season on a 17-yard grab just before halftime. Kittle had been shut out altogether in his Week 7 return from a hamstring injury, so Sunday's production was a particularly welcome sight for fantasy managers and included a new season-high yardage total for the veteran tight end. Kittle draws another favorable matchup irrespective of who his quarterback is when the 49ers face the Giants on the road in Week 9.
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49ers' George Kittle: Off IR, clear for Sunday
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The 49ers activated Kittle (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday, and he has no designation for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Kittle thus is set for his first game action since San Francisco's Week 1 win at Seattle, when he suffered a torn hamstring. The state of the 49ers offense is much different six weeks later, with QB Brock Purdy sidelined again due to a lingering turf toe injury and multiple injuries impacting the receiving corps. Kittle will be in the mix for passes from fill-in signal-caller Mac Jones, and the former will be joined by WRs Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson, RB Christian McCaffrey and fellow TE Jake Tonges.
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49ers' George Kittle: Limited again Thursday
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Kittle (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Since the 49ers designated him for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Kittle has maintained his listed activity level on the 49ers' first two Week 7 injury reports. Per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com, Kittle said that he suffered a full tear of his hamstring Week 1 at Seattle, which spurred extra caution in his recovery effort. However, Kittle added that he's back to full health and intends to suit up this weekend. San Francisco will need to activate him from IR by Saturday afternoon in order to have him available Sunday versus the Falcons.
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49ers' George Kittle: Limited in return to practice
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle (hamstring) will be a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, thereby designating the tight end to return from injured reserve, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Last Wednesday, Shanahan told David Lombardi of SFStandard.com that Kittle as a chance to suit up Week 7, and the tight end's return to practice this Wednesday is the first step in making that a reality. Kittle has been sidelined since the season opener, when he injured his hamstring in the first half of an eventual 49ers win at Seattle. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will reveal his odds to play Sunday versus the Falcons.
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49ers' George Kittle: In line to practice this week
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that the 49ers expect Kittle (hamstring) to practice this week, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
San Francisco has yet to designate Kittle to return from injured reserve, which will need to happen for the tight end to mix into drills. The team resumes practicing Wednesday in advance of next Sunday's game against the Falcons, meaning the aforementioned transaction may transpire before then. In any case, Kittle appears poised to put the finishing touches on his recovery from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since Week 1.
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49ers' George Kittle: Expected to remain out for Week 6
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San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Kittle (hamstring) is considered a "long shot" to be available for the team's Week 6 game against the Buccaneers, but the tight end could be more likely to return from injured reserve for a Week 7 matchup with the Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 19, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After missing the requisite four games upon being placed on IR following Week 1 action, Kittle will be eligible for activation during the upcoming week, but he seemingly hasn't made enough progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury to put himself in consideration for a return just yet. The 49ers could still elect to open Kittle's 21-day practice window next week, though Shanahan hinted that the team may prefer to wait until Week 7 before having the 31-year-old get back on the field, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. While Kittle has been out for the past four weeks, the 49ers have had Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell share snaps at tight end, with the former player proving to be the more formidable pass-catching threat.
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49ers' George Kittle: Move to IR official
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The 49ers placed Kittle (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Kittle will miss at least the next four games before potentially returning to action Week 6 versus the Buccaneers. Before departing Sunday's 17-13 win over the Seahawks with a hamstring injury, Kittle produced four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown on four targets over just 20 snaps. Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges are left as the only healthy tight ends on the 49ers' roster, though fullback Kyle Juszczyk is also an option to take on some of Kittle's pass-catching duties. San Francisco could also elevate Brayden Willis from the practice squad to bolster the depth of the group.
