Tag: George Kittle

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers TE George Kittle expected to sit vs. Seahawks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle plans to test his injured hamstring prior to Sunday’s game against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, but multiple reports indicate he’ll be sidelined for the Week 11 game.

Kittle felt discomfort in the hamstring earlier in the week. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team wasn’t concerned about a major or long-term absence.

The Seahawks won’t be sad to see Kittle sit out after he reeled in two TD passes in San Francisco’s 36-24 win in Seattle on Oct. 10. Kittle has seven touchdown catches in his past five games against the NFC West rival.

ESPN reported the 49ers (5-4) don’t want to risk re-injury with the expectation Kittle will be ready to roll for the Week 12 date with the Green Bay Packers (6-3).

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Kittle would be replaced by Eric Saubert in the starting lineup.

Kittle leads NFL tight ends with seven touchdown receptions in 2024 and is second at the position with 560 receiving yards.

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (1) jogs towards the locker room before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Niners’ Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle miss practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings and tight end George Kittle all missed practice on Wednesday.

Samuel was just released from the hospital on Tuesday with pneumonia-like symptoms, but he could still play this week, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Wednesday. Jennings (hip) also missed last week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs while Kittle (foot) did play.

The team also announced earlier this week that WR Brandon Aiyuk is done for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in Sunday’s loss.

The Niners (3-4) host the Dallas Cowboys (3-3) on Sunday night.

Samuel was in on just four plays against the Chiefs, never touching the ball, before being ruled out since he was having trouble breathing, according to Shanahan. Samuel, 28, has 20 catches for 335 yards and one touchdown this season. He also has 19 carries for 51 yards and a score.

Jennings didn’t practice at all last week. He leads San Francisco with 404 receiving yards. He also has 25 receptions and three touchdowns.

Kittle leads the team with 34 receptions and has 375 yards with five TD catches. He’s considered day-to-day.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs after the catch against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

49ers star TE George Kittle (hamstring) misses practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers are facing another blow to their offense after star tight end George Kittle missed Thursday’s practice with what ESPN and NFL Network reported to be hamstring tightness.

The 49ers may not have Kittle available for Week 3 when they face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Kittle, a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection (including twice to the first team), had 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown over the Niners’ first two games of 2024.

The 30-year-old has played in 100 games (92 starts) since starting his NFL career with San Francisco as a fifth-round draft pick in 2017, hauling in 471 receptions for 6,390 yards and 38 touchdowns.

The 49ers are already down two explosive weapons on offense: running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles), who’s on injured reserve, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf strain), who is expected to miss a couple of weeks.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward (hamstring/knee) also missed practice on Thursday.

–Field Level Media

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts after running past for Houston Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter in a 2024 AFC divisional round game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson, Lions serve as popular bets heading into title games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There has been little movement from the opening lines to the current spread in the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday.

The top-seeded Ravens opened as 3- and 3.5-point favorites by DraftKings and BetMGM, respectively, over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game in Baltimore. The line currently resides at 4.5 by both sportsbooks in favor of the Ravens, who are being backed by 59 percent of the bets and 72 percent of the handle at BetMGM.

BetMGM had the opening line and current spread staying level in the NFC Championship Game. with the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers serving as a 7-point favorite over the visiting Detroit Lions. DraftKings, however, saw its opening line of 6.5 jump to 7.5 in favor of the 49ers.

The betting public, however, is supporting the Lions, with the spread attracting 71 percent of the bets and 58 percent of the handle at BetMGM.

“The Lions are the most bet team to win and cover in the conference championship games,” said Christian Cipollini, trading manager, BetMGM. “BetMGM will be cheering for the 49ers on Sunday.”

As for player props, BetMGM noted the most bet (tickets) player props included Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson with over 64.5 rushing yards and 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle over 75.5 and 58.5 receiving yards, respectively. All three are listed at -135.

BetMGM has Jackson (+100), Kittle (+115) and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (+115) as favorites to score a touchdown, while DraftKings has Jackson (+105), Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs (+115) and Kelce (+120).

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

49ers rest TE George Kittle (groin), hope he’s ready for opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers hope that star tight end George Kittle will return to practice Monday after sitting out this week because of a “lingering” groin injury.

“We’re just taking care of him right now,” head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday. “It’s still stuff lingering a little bit from when he has missed some time. … (Hopefully) we can get him going on Monday.”

The 49ers open the season Sept. 10 at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kittle, whose history of injuries includes missing the first two games of the 2022 season because of a groin strain, played 12 snaps in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 25. Kittle hasn’t played a full season since 2018.

“There’s always concern when something persists, and this has kind of lingered,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said on KNBR. “George usually has about one of these things a year, and when he gets through it, he’s good. Knock on wood that’s the case.”

Lynch used the team’s term “de-load” to talk about cutting back on activity for individual players. Kittle has missed practice time during training camp in addition to limited action in the preseason games.

“The great thing about George is he attacks it,” Lynch said. “Man, we miss him when he’s not on the field, not only because of his ability, but the energy he brings, so there has been a little void here the last few days, but we’re trying to get him right. He’s another guy with a ‘de-load’ week. We want him right, we want it all-load for Pittsburgh.”

Kittle, 29, had 60 catches for 765 yards with a career-best 11 touchdowns in 15 games (all starts) last season.

An All-Pro in 2019 and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, Kittle has totaled 395 receptions for 5,254 yards with 31 touchdowns in 82 career games (74 starts) with the 49ers.

The 49ers selected him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa.

–Field Level Media

Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers’ George Kittle, Ray-Ray McCloud nursing injuries

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is nursing an adductor strain and wide receiver/kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud is dealing with a broken wrist, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Thursday.

While Kittle is expected to miss one week of action, McCloud reportedly will be sidelined as many as eight weeks. Veteran wideout Willie Snead IV, rookie wideout Ronnie Bell and rookie cornerback D’Shawn Jamison are potential candidates to handle return duties in place of McCloud.

Kittle, 29, had 60 catches for 765 yards with a career-best 11 touchdowns in 15 games (all starts) last season.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Kittle has totaled 395 receptions for 5,254 yards with 31 touchdowns in 82 career games (74 starts) with the 49ers.

McCloud, 26, had 14 catches for 243 yards and his first career receiving touchdown in 17 games (two starts) for the Niners in 2022. He averaged 23.0 yards per kick return and 10.8 per punt return last season.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) makes a catch during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility near Levi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: 49ers TE George Kittle (groin) out again Sunday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco tight end George Kittle is expected to miss his second straight game Sunday against Seattle, per multiple reports.

The 49ers star sustained a groin injury during a Sept. 5 practice session and did not return to practice until Friday, in a limited capacity.

Kittle, 28, caught 71 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 14 starts last season.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection has not played a full season since 2018 due to various injuries.

–Field Level Media