That is a massive blow to the 49ers’ offense. Arguably the best tight end in the NFL, George Kittle, will miss the next three games with a calf injury. The 49ers announced Saturday that he was placed on injured reserve.
Due to a rule change, Kittle will have to miss three games, not three weeks. That’s substantial with the 49ers’ bye coming up next week. He would miss the team’s games against the Cardinals this week, against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, and the Halloween game against the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
He’ll be eligible to return for the Week 9 game against the Cardinals at home.
The news is a surprise given that Kittle played through it last week, but that’s more of a reflection of Kittle’s penchant for playing through pain than of the seriousness of his injury. He admitted a while back he’s played through a torn labrum for the last few years, which he’s declined to get surgically repaired.
When asked about the calf injury on October 1, the All-Pro tight end’s tone was fairly solemn. After an unusually long pause, he answered.
“I wouldn’t lie to you guys, would I?” Kittle said. “I mean, I’m gonna do everything I can to be able to be on the field on Sunday. If my body says I can go, I’ll be out there.”
Kittle won’t be out there for the next four weeks. So what does that mean for the 49ers?
It means they’ll turn to tight ends Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner in his stead. Woerner is clearly the better blocker of the two.
Neither are as talented as Kittle is, but that’s most crucial as it relates to blocking. The way the 49ers use Kittle in one-on-one pass protection against defensive ends is an option which is likely now off the table.
One move to remember at this point is that veteran blocking tight end MyCole Pruitt was cut at conclusion of training camp. He signed to the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad before being promoted to the active roster, and has since played in all four games.
The 49ers also have receiver-turned-tight end Jordan Matthews on the practice squad, but he has not impressed as a blocker. The likelier option was always former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Tanner Hudson.
The team announced that Hudson and quarterback Nate Sudfeld have been activated from the practice squad and wide receiver Travis Benjamin was promoted to the active roster.
If they decide to get creative down the line, fullback Josh Hokit is also on the practice squad if the team opts to lean on Kyle Juszczyk more. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings also has a large frame from the slot and has excelled in blocking situations too, so there’s a chance we see more of him.
However Kyle Shanahan tries to compensate without Kittle, it is a huge loss, especially before Trey Lance’s first career start.