San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges tied wide receiver Kendrick Bourne for a team-high 11 targets in Week 5. Tonges turned his looks into seven catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco's 26-23 win over the Rams. The tight end was afforded extra opportunities with Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) inactive due to injuries. In Week 6, Pearsall will again be out, and Jennings is listed as questionable on the 49ers' final injury report. Tonges hasn't been compiling much yardage while standing in for George Kittle (hamstring), but he has scored in three separate games. On Sunday, San Francisco will face the Buccaneers, who allowed two touchdowns each to Dallas Goedert and AJ Barner in their last two games. Tonges has high-end TE2 potential for the contest, so long as Mac Jones (knee, oblique) is able to suit up.
Oct 11, 2025 6:24 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges caught seven of his 11 targets for 41 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's win over the Los Angeles Rams. Tonges has filled in quite admirably for George Kittle (hamstring), who could return as early as next week. Through five games, the 26-year-old has 19 catches, 166 yards, and three touchdowns, ranking 10th among tight ends in fantasy points per game. The return of Kittle, whether that happens sooner or later, will push Tonges back to a depth role and keep him off the fantasy radar. At the moment, it's too early to predict whether Kittle will return and impact Tonges' fantasy outlook next week against the Ravens.
Oct 3, 2025 12:53 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges has emerged as the team's preferred pass-catcher at the position in the absence of George Kittle (hamstring). Through four weeks, Tonges has the edge on Luke Farrell in targets (16 to six) and has run nearly twice as many routes (96 to 52). Quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), who connected with Tonges for both of the tight end's touchdowns this season, will be out in Week 5 and replaced by Mac Jones for the third time in four weeks. Tonges' target share held steady in Purdy's previous absence, and might even grow with both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/ribs) also declared out. Tonges projects as a low-end TE2 in Week 5. While his stock may be improving, tight end streamers should look elsewhere rather than gamble on another touchdown coming his way on Thursday night.
Oct 2, 2025 3:02 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (shoulder) caught his second touchdown of the season in the team's 26-21 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. Tonges left the game just six plays in due to a possible shoulder injury but returned near the end of the first quarter. He finished the game with three catches on five targets and had 58 receiving yards, good for second-most on the team in Week 4. Tonges has emerged as the preferred pass-catching tight end in George Kittle's (hamstring) absence. Both Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ribs/ankle/shoulder) suffered injuries on Sunday, and on a short week (the 49ers face the Rams on Thursday), their status is up in the air. If either or both are limited or absent, then Tonges could see a greater target share than usual.
Sep 29, 2025 3:31 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (shoulder) has returned to Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He exited in the first quarter and was initially listed as questionable to return, but he is now back in the game. Tonges has seen an increased workload lately with George Kittle (hamstring) on injured reserve. He and Luke Farrell will continue to lead the position group for the duration of Kittle's absence.
Sep 28, 2025 5:18 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (shoulder) exited during the first quarter of Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did not have a target at the time of his departure and is officially listed as questionable to return. Tonges has seen an increased workload lately with George Kittle (hamstring) on injured reserve. With Tonges also sidelined, San Francisco will now rely on Luke Farrell as its top tight end.
Sep 28, 2025 4:29 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges has emerged as the team's top receiving option at the position during George Kittle's (hamstring) absence. Even though Luke Farrell is listed at the top of the team's depth chart, Tonges has more targets (11, to Farrell's four) and is seeing considerably more time on the field. Still, Tonges is well behind Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers' wide receiver corps in the pecking order of pass distribution. However, there is a chance for Tonges to get more attention in Week 4, since Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder) are both questionable. Also benefiting Tonges is the return of quarterback Brock Purdy (toe/shoulder) following a two-week absence. Even with those factors in play, Tonges is projected just outside of TE2 territory and should be left on the waiver wire for Week 4.
Sep 27, 2025 5:44 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges may have been the hero of Week 1, but it was Luke Farrell who was given the start in Week 2. Tonges did end up with a greater snap share (78% to 59%), more targets (five to three), and a higher route participation rate (54.7% to 47.5%), but Farrell still won out in overall fantasy production. Tonges' four catches for 31 yards were double what Farrell brought to the table in both categories, but one of the latter's catches resulted in a touchdown. The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco's Week 3 opponent, gave up eight receptions to Juwan Johnson in Week 1 and seven to Ja'Tavion Sanders last week. However, given the rotation utilized by the 49ers in Week 2, Tonges shouldn't be counted on for that kind of success in Week 3.
Sep 20, 2025 5:42 AM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges had four receptions for 31 yards in Sunday's 26-21 win over the New Orleans Saints. While Tonges was the hero of Week 1, catching the go-ahead touchdown near the end of the game, Luke Farrell was San Francisco's starting tight end in Week 2. Farrell ended up with a short touchdown, but Tonges had the edge in targets (five to Farrell's three), receptions (four to two), and snap share (78% to 59%). George Kittle's (hamstring) absence opens the door for another tight end to produce for the 49ers, but the timeshare exhibited in Week 2 limits Tonges' appeal going into Week 3.
Sep 16, 2025 12:06 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges was the hero of the team's Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Tonges stepped in for an injured George Kittle (hamstring) and caught the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute and a half left in the game. With Kittle now on injured reserve, Tonges is now the favorite to act as San Francisco's first-string tight end. Unfortunately, quarterback Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) has been ruled out for the 49ers' next game, meaning Mac Jones will be under center when they face the Saints on Sunday. Tonges had the play of the game but saw only two other targets in Kittle's stead last week. Fantasy managers looking for streaming tight end options can probably find a more reliable option on the wire for Week 2.
Sep 13, 2025 4:14 AM EST
With the San Francisco 49ers placing All-Pro tight end George Kittle (hamstring) on the IR on Tuesday, the team is left with only Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges at the position. While fullback Kyle Juszczyk could be asked to handle an expanded role, it was the fourth-year tight end Tonges who stepped in on Sunday following Kittle's departure due to a hamstring injury. Tonges made the first three catches of his NFL career, including a 4-yard TD pass with under two minutes to play. With quarterback Brock Purdy (shoulder, toe) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) also banged up, the 49ers' offense may look entirely different heading into Week 2. While the gameplan will continue to be funneled directly through Christian McCaffrey, the team will be looking for contributions wherever they can get them, and Tonges could be in line for his first career start. While his effectiveness could be capped in a Mac Jones offense, desperate managers can throw a waiver dart in hopes of volume by necessity.
Sep 9, 2025 2:50 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges hauled in three catches for 15 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, in his team's 17-13 Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Tonges took over as the team's lead receiving tight end after George Kittle (hamstring) was forced out of the game early with a hamstring injury. Tonges had not recorded a catch in 20 NFL games heading into Sunday, but he could become a relevant piece in San Francisco's offense if Kittle is forced to miss time. 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) also left Week 1 early, so San Francisco is searching for pass-catchers behind wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and running back Christian McCaffrey. Tonges is a possible waiver-wire add for fantasy managers in deep leagues, pending the coming injury updates on Kittle.
Sep 8, 2025 11:05 AM EST
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Thursday that tight end Jake Tonges and offensive lineman Austen Pleasants signed their one-year, exclusive-rights tenders. Both players will return to the Bay Area for the 2025 season. Tonges, 25, began his career with the Chicago Bears in 2022 and appeared in 16 games with the Niners in 2024 but was not used at all on offense on just 34 snaps. He'll make $1.03 million this year after re-signing. Instead, he played 232 snaps on special teams and had two solo tackles. The former undrafted free agent out of California will most likely serve in a similar role as a special-teams ace for San Fran in 2025. Pleasants, 27, started his career in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers and then played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and with the Niners last year. He has appeared in just five NFL games over three seasons.
Apr 18, 2025 12:00 AM EST