This is not the news the 49ers needed four days before their season opener.
Tight end George Kittle did not practice on Wednesday after sustaining a groin injury, one that head coach Kyle Shanahan said has Kittle ‘not feeling good.’ The injury happened on Monday, and has thrown Kittle’s status for Sunday’s game vs. the Bears in question.
For now, San Francisco will re-evaluate Kittle’s status on a day-to-day basis. Perhaps not coincidentally, the 49ers signed TE Troy Fumagalli and WR Connor Wedington to the practice squad. They released WR Willie Snead IV.
Kittle has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but is known for playing through ailments. He played in 14 on the 49ers’ 17 games last year, but played in just half of SF’s games in 2021.
If he can’t go, Charlie Woerner would step up as the starting tight end, with Ross Dwelley and Tyler Kroft both likely to get more playing time as well.