George Kittle has been one of the NFL’s most dominant tight ends since entering the league in 2017, including when he posted what was then (2018) the single-season receiving yards record for a tight end with 1,377 yards. The six-time Pro Bowler suffered a Grade 3 hamstring tear in Week 1 while playing for the San Francisco 49ers and has been sidelined since.
When Will George Kittle Return From Injury?
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on October 13 that Kittle officially began practicing this week ahead of the 49ers’ Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on October 19.
Although he was limited in practice on Thursday, Kittle himself confirmed that he is planning to play this week. However, Shanahan will ultimately decided whether the star tight end will play or not.
#49ers TE George Kittle says he “fully plans” on playing Sunday night. Says it will be ultimately up to Kyle Shanahan but that’s his expectation.
Kittle says he has had a fully torn hamstring.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 16, 2025
The injury happened during the second quarter of San Francisco’s season opener against Seattle on September 7. Kittle caught a 5-yard touchdown from Brock Purdy to extend the lead before suffering a hamstring strain with 10:06 left in the half. He finished with four receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown before being ruled out.
San Francisco placed him on injured reserve after Week 1, which required a minimum four-game absence. He’s now missed five straight games. His history includes multiple hamstring issues, as well as previous problems with his groin, knee, and foot throughout his career.
How Has Kittle’s Absence Affected the 49ers’ Offense?
The numbers tell an interesting story about San Francisco’s offense without their star tight end. The 49ers have maintained a 4-2 record through six weeks, but the offensive performance hasn’t matched expectations.
The 49ers have the 15th-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, with a score of 76.1 and a C grade. That reflects the challenge of replacing a player who does everything.
Kittle signed a four-year, $76.4 million extension in April 2025 with $40 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. His production backs up that contract. Over nine seasons, he’s recorded 542 receptions for 7,405 yards and 46 touchdowns. He led all tight ends with 2,126 receiving yards over the 2023-2024 campaigns.
Backup tight end Jake Tonges has filled in well, recording 25 receptions for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns during Kittle’s absence. Tonges has provided reliable production in the passing game. Still, Kittle’s elite blocking and ability to create mismatches downfield remain difficult to replace, underscoring the importance of getting the All-Pro back on the field.
Kittle being back for Week 7 against Atlanta would provide a significant boost to an offense searching for consistency. The 49ers will monitor his practice workload closely before making a final decision on his availability.
