Tight end George Kittle was downgraded from questionable to out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced Saturday, marking another blow for the vaunted San Francisco 49ers’ offensive weaponry.
Kittle missed practices Thursday and Friday with what coach Kyle Shanahan described as hamstring soreness. He was not on Shanahan’s injury list coming out of Sunday’s game in Minnesota — a game in which Kittle needed an IV in the second half, and he practiced in full Wednesday. But he was sore coming out of that practice and remained so Thursday morning, so the 49ers held him back.
The 49ers already will be without running back Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and receiver Deebo Samuel (calf). Meanwhile, receiver Brandon Aiyuk is still trying to find his groove with quarterback Brock Purdy after missing all of spring and summer practices. He’s averaged three catches for 35 1/2 yards in the two games so far.
Kittle likely would have had a big role Sunday if he was healthy.
Last year, for example, Samuel missed two full games. In the first, a Week 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Kittle was targeted seven times and finished with five catches for 78 yards. He also had a carry — for two yards — in that game. He was targeted even more heavily the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with nine catches for a season-high 149 yards.
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Without Kittle, the 49ers likely will use fullback Kyle Juszczyk more heavily and also turn to backup tight ends Eric Saubert and Jake Tonges. Saubert’s a blocking specialist, though he’s been more heavily involved in the passing game than his predecessor at that spot, Charlie Woerner. Saubert, for example, has three pass targets so far; Woerner had three targets all of last season.
“I think Saubert has done a great job just coming in and doing his job well and knowing what our offense is, where his landmarks are supposed to be as a route runner,” Purdy said Thursday. “(During the) two-minute drill (Sunday), he was right where he needed to be and caught a couple crucial catches and stuff. And he’s got experience, he’s played for a while now.”
Tonges, meanwhile, would elevate to the role of No. 2 tight end if Kittle didn’t play. He’s more of a receiver than blocker but has just two offensive snaps so far this season. The 49ers also elevated tight end Brayden Willis from the practice squad Saturday. Another practice squad tight end, rookie Mason Pline, is more of a developmental player at this point.
Regarding other injuries, defensive end Nick Bosa (rib) and cornerback Charvarius Ward (hamstring/knee) were limited participants in Friday’s practice. Shanahan said Bosa suffered the rib injury during a one-on-one pass-rush drill in Thursday’s practice.
(Photo: Lachlan Cunningham / Getty)
