The San Francisco 49ers will lose an important piece for at least a month as they will place tight end George Kittle on Injured Reserve.
Videos by FanBuzz
Kittle left last weekend's 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks with a hamstring injury after catching four passes for 25 yards and a touchdown. He exited the game in the second quarter and did not return.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported after the game that Kittle would miss three to five weeks while recovering from the hamstring injury, which made him a candidate for short term Injured Reserve.
With Kittle heading to Injured Reserve, he will miss a minimum of four games. He will potentially be eligible to return for the Oct. 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This will put more pressure on Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges, who both contributed against the Seahawks. Tonges, in particular, caught the game-winning touchdown pass. Head coach Kyle Shanahan also noted that Brayden Willis can also step into action in Kittle's absence.
Kittle has spent his entire NFL career with the 49ers after joining them as a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has been a standout performer for the NFC West team while piling up 7,405 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns. He has helped propel the 49ers to two different Super Bowl appearances while earning six trips to the Pro Bowl.
Kittle is not the only 49ers offensive player facing injury concerns after the opening week of the NFL season. Quarterback Brock Purdy sustained shoulder and toe injuries during the game. He remains questionable heading into Week 2's game against the Saints.
"I'd probably say the toe's worse than the shoulder," Shanahan told reporters on Monday. "...We've got to see how it heals and how the week goes."
If Purdy can not suit up, this means that backup Mac Jones will have to step into action. The former Patriots and Jaguars quarterback has a 20-29 record in games he has started with 10,590 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 44 interceptions.
Shanahan told media members that he remains prepared for this outcome. He said that Jones will do his job at a high level and that the players will believe in him as he leads them against the Saints.
