Photo Credit: 49ers
Many 49ers fans would not like to see George Kittle return this season. Or rather, as much as they would like to see him play again, they do not want him—fresh off a five-year, $75 million extension—to risk injury when this team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
But on Tuesday, Kyle Shanahan said he plans on playing Kittle this Saturday if he looks good in practice. As long as he’s healthy, you’ll see him face Arizona.
“Yeah, I think he’s got a chance this week,” Shanahan said. “That was the point of getting him back at practice last week to see how he responded. I know he responded good from a medical standpoint. So, I’m looking to see how he is this week and if he’s good, I plan on him playing.”
The obvious response is, “Why?” Why would you bring back your best player, and a top-10 player in the NFL when you have two games left, both of which mean nothing aside from perhaps pride?
Shanahan framed it as if he has to. If Kittle is healthy, and surely demanding that he play (as he would regardless of whether he was capable or not), and the rest of the team, battling through injuries, is being forced to play through these last two games, he can’t, in good conscience, let Kittle sit.
“If he’s healthy, I just don’t see the reason why not to,” Shanahan said. “That’s the same as every other player on our roster. If you’re healthy and you’re not risking something, I mean we would never ask him to play injured or anything like that, but he had a good week of practice last week. Most of the soreness was going away and we’re definitely going to test it again this week.
“But, when you have a guy, if he’s a hundred percent healthy and stuff, how do you sit one guy and then look at everybody else in the eye on the team? There probably isn’t anybody playing out there 100 percent healthy right now. So, when you are, there’s a respect level that players have towards each other and everyone goes through this whole thing.”
He continued, saying players are underpaid because they could suffer a career-ending injury on every play. He said the team will still be, and has been, “overly cautious” with Kittle.
“Players risk, every time they step on the field, no matter who you are, you’re risking your career,” Shanahan said. “That’s what’s tough about this sport and that’s why I don’t think players get paid enough, even though a lot of people would disagree with me on that. There’s not many people in the world that can do what you do and you’re risking your future every time you go out there and that’s no different for George. It’s no different for all the other 52 guys on our roster.
“So, obviously I don’t want to get George hurt or anything like that, and that’s why we’re going to be overly cautious with it and that’s why we have been, but if someone’s a hundred percent healthy, I can’t look the rest of the team in the eye and tell them they have to play, but George doesn’t. So, that’s just part of having a team and part of treating people the right way.”