San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that there's a chance that tight end George Kittle (hamstring) will return from Injured Reserve to play in next Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. The Niners have yet to open the 31-year-old's 21-day practice window, so Kittle will not be back this weekend to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers are going to have to stay patient, as Kittle won't be a lock to make his return next week, even if he resumes practicing in some capacity. San Fran really could use some good news in the health department, as receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) could both miss their second straight game this Sunday. Jake Tonges has seen his pass-catching role increase and has now scored in back-to-back weeks. Tonges will be a TE2 streamer yet again against Tampa, especially if Jennings and Pearsall miss another game.
Oct 8, 2025 6:45 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is eligible to come off Injured Reserve and play in Week 6, but he's considered a "long shot" to return this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Kittle is more likely to return in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons than this week versus Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old veteran injured his hamstring in the season opener and was placed on IR, but he's missed the required four games and can now return whenever the team deems him healthy. Once the Niners designate him to return to practice, they'll have a 21-day window to officially activate him. In the meantime, Jake Tonges, who scored his third TD in Week 5, should be in play as a TE streamer in fantasy, especially if receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) and/or Ricky Pearsall (knee) miss more time.
Oct 7, 2025 12:17 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges came up big in Week 5, tying Kendrick Bourne for a team-high 11 targets and securing seven receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. The score was his third trip to the end zone since taking over for George Kittle (hamstring) as the team's primary receiving tight end. Kittle was seen running on a side field during Monday's practice, but is still on injured reserve. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Kittle playing in Week 6 is a "long shot" and the likelier return date will be Week 7. If Kittle continues to miss time, and pending the status of wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs), Tonges could be in store for another productive week. In Week 6, the 49ers face the Buccaneers, who have given up two touchdowns to tight ends in each of their last two games.
Oct 7, 2025 12:03 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) has been on Injured Reserve since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 and is first eligible to return in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, that appears doubtful, as 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle is a "long shot" to return in Week 6 and that a Week 7 return against the Atlanta Falcons is more likely. In Kittle's absence, San Francisco tight end Jake Tonges has recorded 19 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns, including 10 catches for 99 yards and two scores in his last two games. If Kittle is indeed sidelined for Week 6, Tonges could be a low-end starting option for fantasy managers at the tight end position.
Oct 3, 2025 3:49 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is trending toward a Week 6 return from injured reserve. Kittle strained his hamstring in Week 1 after posting four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, all in the first quarter. His return will be a major boost for San Francisco's offense, both as a pass catcher and as a blocker. Once active, Kittle should immediately reclaim his role as a high-end TE1, though fantasy managers should be more concerned about his health risks and the 49ers' crowded target distribution.
Oct 2, 2025 10:29 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) remains on injured reserve after exiting in Week 1. Kittle scored an early touchdown before leaving the game and was placed on IR shortly afterward. His earliest return date is Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though his fantasy outlook is now clouded in the 49ers' crowded receiver room. With rookie Ricky Pearsall emerging, Jauan Jennings performing when healthy, and Christian McCaffrey leading the team in targets, Kittle may not return to the same dominant workload he had in 2024. Brandon Aiyuk is also tracking toward a late-season return, which could further limit his target share. While Kittle still carries name value and touchdown upside, he might not reclaim elite fantasy status. If he returns strong in midseason, he could be a smart sell-high candidate before the 49ers' offense becomes even more crowded.
Sep 24, 2025 9:58 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on Injured Reserve prior to Week 2. As a result, the 31-year-old will not play until at least Week 6, when San Francisco is set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the 49ers' first game without Kittle in Week 2, tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges combined for six catches, 45 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Kittle's return timeline could coincide with returns for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee). That could mean that San Francisco's offense could be firing on all cylinders when it welcomes Kittle back to the lineup. For fantasy managers with an open IR spot, this could be an interesting time to try and buy low on Kittle.
Sep 16, 2025 9:27 PM EST
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the San Francisco 49ers are placing tight end George Kittle (hamstring) on the injured reserve. As a result, Kittle will miss at least the next four games. The star tight end suffered this injury during their Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Before exiting the contest, Kittle caught all four of his targets for 25 yards and a touchdown. When he was sidelined, Kittle was replaced by Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears he will be sidelined for at least the next month. While he remains out, fantasy managers should expect Farrell to see most of the blocking work while Tonges takes on most of the receiving work. Tonges caught all three of his targets for 15 yards and appears to be in the lead role to take on most of Kittle's offensive production. He is worth targeting in deep 14+ team formats on the waiver wire.
Sep 9, 2025 1:15 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is likely to miss three to five weeks with the hamstring injury that he suffered in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. It makes Kittle a candidate to land on Injured Reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games. The 49ers' offense is dropping like flies, with receiver Jauan Jennings suffering a shoulder injury on Sunday and quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) dealing with multiple injuries that could keep him out in Week 2 versus the New Orleans Saints. Fantasy managers should not be dropping Kittle, but it may be a while before we see him back on the field. Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell will be tasked with picking up the slack at the TE position, but they won't be realistic fantasy streamers, especially if Purdy also misses some time.
Sep 8, 2025 7:05 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (left shoulder) will undergo MRIs and additional testing over the next 24 hours, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Both players departed Week 1 with their respective injuries, leaving the 49ers short-staffed in the passing game. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to additional updates from the 49ers organization on Monday. In the event that neither Kittle nor Jennings can play next week, players like Ricky Pearsall, Russell Gage Jr., and Luke Farrell would earn increased targets.
Sep 7, 2025 8:08 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (hamstring) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. At the time of his departure, he had caught four passes for 25 yards and one touchdown. The star tight end is one of the focal points of San Francisco's offense, and he has been able to stay relatively healthy, missing just two games in 2024. His injury represents a major concern for the Niners in Week 1 and beyond. Fantasy managers should monitor Kittle's practice status next week, as it's too early to tell whether this might be a multi-week absence. Luke Farrell will operate as the 49ers' primary tight end until Kittle can return.
Sep 7, 2025 5:20 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is expected to make his preseason debut in the team's matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran is entering his ninth professional season at 31 years old after a stellar 2024 campaign in which he hauled in 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns, solidifying his status as one of the league's best tight ends. Kittle, considered a stalwart and the heart of the team, will look to get some valuable reps ahead of the regular season.
Aug 16, 2025 3:55 PM EST
During a recent appearance on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle said he feels great physically and mentally, and he is not putting a timeline on his retirement. The former fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa said he will play "literally until I don't have fun anymore." The Pro Bowl and All-Pro fixture recently signed a four-year extension to remain with the Niners long term following a 78-catch, 1,106-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2024. "The one benefit of not making the playoffs is you get an entire month off," Kittle said. "I haven't had January off since 2020." This sounds like a great development for Kittle's fantasy managers and his upside in 2025, especially after the departure of receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., who was traded to the Washington Commanders. Kittle is currently being priced as the TE3 in half-PPR ADP, and it would be a surprise if he's not in contention for the overall TE1 once again in his ninth NFL campaign.
Jun 25, 2025 3:26 PM EST
Six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday that includes $40 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Now that the two sides were able to work out a contract extension, Kittle should show up for the team's voluntary offseason program, while the Niners can now turn their full attention to getting an extension done with quarterback Brock Purdy. Despite being on the wrong side of 30 -- he'll turn 32 in October, Kittle finished as the TE2 in half-PPR scoring last year, behind only Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers. He finished 2024 with 78 catches on 94 targets for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in only 15 games played. Kittle is a high-end fantasy tight end, but he's also injury-prone and relies more on efficiency than volume, as he hasn't had triple-digit targets since 2019.
Apr 29, 2025 1:03 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle wants to become the league's highest-paid tight end, a league source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Kittle would have to top the four-year, $76 million deal that 25-year-old Trey McBride recently inked with the Arizona Cardinals. So far the 49ers' offers to Kittle have been rebuffed, and the two sides are far apart from a deal, which is why Kittle didn't show up to the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts earlier this week. He will be turning 32 in October and is set to enter the start of the final year of his current deal in 2025. Other teams are keeping an eye out, but so far, Kittle isn't requesting a trade. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Kittle finished as the TE2 in PPR scoring in 2024 thanks to 78 catches, 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. He'll be an injury-prone, high-end fantasy TE1 that thrives on per-target efficiency rather than volume.
Apr 24, 2025 12:08 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle did not report to the start of team offseason activities, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The six-time Pro Bowl selection is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn a base salary of $14.4 million. The Iowa product put another fantastic season together in 2024, collecting 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. The 31-year-old is one of the best tight ends of his generation and has five seasons of at least 900 receiving yards on his career resume. If Kittle wants a contract extension and a raise, he has earned it. He currently ranks behind Trey McBride, Travis Kelce, and T.J. Hockenson in average salary among tight ends and is likely to take on a bigger workload after the departure of Deebo Samuel Sr.
Apr 22, 2025 3:20 PM EST
There is some uncertainty as to whether San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle will attend voluntary activities as he seeks a new contract, according to The Athletic's Michael Silver. Kittle is heading into the final year of a five-year, $75 million deal and is considered much more of a long shot to get something done because he and the team remain far apart in contract discussions. Even though Kittle is on the wrong side of 30 and is an injury risk, he was the TE2 in half-PPR scoring in 2024 thanks to 78 catches on 94 targets for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games played. It was even more impressive due to the fact that he played much of the season with cracked ribs. Because of his production last year, Kittle will continue to be a high-end tight end target in fantasy drafts this fall, but the risk is also high given his propensity for injuries.
Apr 21, 2025 6:45 PM EST
San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch writes that the San Francisco 49ers and star tight end George Kittle have been in talks about a contract extension early this offseason. The 31-year-old is heading into the final year of his current deal in 2025 after a strong 2024 campaign in which he caught 78 passes on 94 targets for 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 15 starts. The production was all the more impressive after he revealed that he played through cracked ribs for much of the season, and he also missed two games with a hamstring ailment. Kittle's 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns were both the second-best marks of his career. He was the TE1 overall in fantasy, with only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride besting him in total yardage. Regardless of whether he gets a contract extension from the Niners (he likely will), Kittle will be a top-five fantasy TE in drafts this fall.
Feb 21, 2025 9:33 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) was outproduced by his backup Eric Saubert during the team's 47-24 loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. Kittle caught two of three targets for 27 yards. The affable team captain was questionable and ultimately activated but had his snap count reduced in the meaningless game. Most likely, the 49ers organization was showing appreciation to Kittle by giving him the start since he has a $500,000 per-game roster bonus in his contract. Kittle finishes an excellent season as the overall half-PPR TE2, behind only Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers and just ahead of Arizona's Trey McBride. He amassed 78 receptions, 1,106 yards, and eight touchdowns in 2024. He was hyper-efficient this year, setting career marks in catch percentage and yards per target. Kittle will enter his age-32 season in 2025 once again as a fantasy TE1 with San Francisco.
Jan 5, 2025 11:54 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring) is officially active for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. He had been listed as questionable. Although the 49ers have already been eliminated from playoff contention, Kittle will be suiting up for the season finale. Quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow), however, won't play, which means Kittle will be catching passes from Joshua Dobbs. The 31-year-old ranks second among tight ends in fantasy points this season, and he enters the season finale as a high-end TE1.
Jan 5, 2025 3:30 PM EST
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