The 2022 NFL regular season hasn’t started yet, but 49ers tight end George Kittle is already banged-up.
Kittle did not participate in 49ers practice on Wednesday as a result of a groin injury. The 28-year-old reportedly suffered the injury during practice on Monday and wasn’t feeling good enough to return to the field, per 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Was hoping he’d be good today,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday. “Did a little on Monday and not feeling good today. So we’ll have to see; [he’s] day-by-day.”
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That day-by-day designation makes it unclear whether Kittle will be able to participate in the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Bears at Soldier Field. Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reports that a source told him Kittle’s injury is “not good” and said that “it would be optimal for [Kittle] to rest and rehab for a week or two.”
As such, the 49ers could opt to play it safe with their top tight end. After all, it is Week 1, and he has missed 13 of the team’s games over the last three seasons.
Kittle is expected to be one of Trey Lance’s top targets if healthy, so losing him would be a blow to the team’s passing offense. The 49ers would use some combination of Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley and Tyler Kroft to fill in for Kittle if he can’t play.
Woerner — a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft — is listed as Kittle’s top backup on the depth chart. That said, he has just eight career catches for 88 yards, so he may be more of a blocking replacement for Kittle.
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As such, the 49ers may rely more on Dwelley — who has 40 career catches, 401 yards and four touchdowns — and Kroft (101 catches, 1,024 yards and 13 touchdowns) as pass-catching replacements for Kittle.
Either way, Kittle’s status will bear watching ahead of the 49ers’ season opener. He could play, but he would likely need to take a step forward at practice on Thursday or Friday for Shanahan and Co. to feel comfortable allowing him on the field.
