The San Francisco 49ers continue to be bitten by the injury bug. Many hoped they would return to full strength this season, but that has not been the case. They entered the season already missing players, and things got worse in Week 1.
The 49ers lost tight end George Kittle to a hamstring injury and quarterback Brock Purdy to toe and shoulder injuries. It would not be a surprise if the 49ers looked to improve their roster via trade. Adding another pass catcher seems like the most likely upgrade.
49ers Predicted to Trade for George Kittle Replacement
After just one week, some players are already being discussed in trade talks. One is Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, who could be a target for the 49ers as a replacement for Kittle. Bleacher Report suggested Njoku’s trade value would be a conditional 2026 third-round pick.
Njoku could be available after how things unfolded for the Browns in Week 1. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin looked NFL-ready in his debut, recording more targets, catches, and yards than Njoku. Still, Njoku has been productive throughout his career, with six seasons of at least four touchdowns.
Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox wrote, “Fannin’s presence on a rookie contract should make the idea of trading Njoku a lot more palatable for the Browns — especially since the 2023 Pro Bowler should carry a premium price tag.”
Some summer hype that hit in big way was Harold Fannin. #Browns had zero interest in making Fannin wait behind David Njoku.
Njoku played 84% of the snaps, ran 85% of the routes. And Fannin still led team in targets (9) while running 65% of the routes. pic.twitter.com/l6LU5RjNFE
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) September 8, 2025
It may be too soon for either team to consider a deal, but the 49ers entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and will need to find ways to navigate their roster until their stars return.
49ers Hoping to Survive Wave of Injuries
After an impressive road win in Week 1, the 49ers head home for a matchup with the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. The Saints are projected to be among the league’s worst teams, and the 49ers are favored to win without Kittle and Purdy.
It looks like the 49ers will start Mac Jones at quarterback, with Jake Tonges filling in for Kittle at tight end. The number of injuries San Francisco suffers each season is remarkable, but if this is a sign of things to come, the 49ers could be in trouble.
