How long is George Kittle out? Latest injury update on San Francisco 49ers tight end originally appeared on The Sporting News
The San Francisco 49ers have been without the services of tight end George Kittle for the past three weeks, and the superstar tight end will be out once again in Week 5.
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Kittle suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and has been on injured reserve ever since. His absence has been an even bigger issue than normal given the slew of injuries the 49ers have seen to their pass-catchers.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings is set to miss his second game in Week 5, and fellow wideout Ricky Pearsall will miss his first when the Niners do battle against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Adding to those woes, quarterback Brock Purdy has missed three games after he was ruled out once again this week.
It goes without saying the Niners desperately need Kittle back, but when can we expect him to return? Here’s what we know.
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How long is George Kittle out?
When the Niners complete their Week 5 game against the Rams, that will be the fourth game Kittle misses, so he will be eligible to be activated off IR in Week 6 ahead of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, an initial report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated that Kittle may miss up to five weeks with his hamstring injury, so he could miss another contest, which would put his return at Week 7 versus the Atlanta Falcons.
Even if he is just close and not 100%, the 49ers can start the process of bringing Kittle back by designating him to return from IR, which gives the team a 21-day window to activate the veteran to the 53-man roster.
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While Kittle has been sidelined, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell have been able to get more run, although Tonges is the only one to make any semblance of a significant impact in the passing game with 12 catches for 125 yards and two scores.
While Tonges has been a pleasant surprise, he simply cannot fill Kittle’s shoes. It goes without saying that Kittle’s return will be a huge boost to San Fran’s offense.
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