Tight end George Kittle, like the rest of the San Francisco 49ers, is revving up for the 2019 season. The coaching staff has been at the team's facilities for most of the week, but players reported on Friday with their first practice scheduled for Saturday.
Kittle was among several 49ers players who spoke with the media on reporting day. He spent part of the team's six-week break in Nashville, Tennessee with one of his quarterbacks, C.J. Beathard.
Beathard, of course, is competing with Nick Mullens for the backup quarterback job behind Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers drafted both Kittle and Beathard out of Iowa in the same year, so the two are entering their ninth season together as teammates.
How is Beathard looking?
"He looks great," Kittle responded.
The tight end enjoyed working with the backup quarterback during the break because it allowed the two of them to study the offense together from different perspectives. Neither Kittle nor Beathard could work with the coaching staff during the time off, but they were armed with iPads containing the entire playbook and videos from organized team activities.
"Just being able to talk to each other, it's just really nice to have a quarterback because they know everything," Kittle continued. "They're with Coach Shanahan 24/7, so being able to get the information from them makes my life easier."
Kittle is coming off an impressive 2018 campaign that saw him set a new NFL single-season record for reception yards by a tight end. He also earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
"It's fun," Kittle said after being asked how much he reflected on last season. "Seeing clips and stuff like that, it's an experience with my family I'll never forget. After OTAs, I'm just looking forward to what's coming because I think we're going to have a lot more fun this year. Whether it's individually or as a team, I think it's just going to be a blast."
Kittle won't be a secret weapon this season. Every NFL team is well aware of what the dangerous tight end can do.
Kittle isn't concerned with last year's accomplishments, though. This is a new season. He knows opposing defenses will focus more on stopping him. Kittle remains focused on doing his job to the best of his ability.
"I'm just going to keep showing up, playing football," Kittle said. "I'm going to do what I do really well, and just keep doing that."
Kittle had an injury-plagued rookie campaign in 2017. It wasn't known until afterward, but the tight end played half of his record-breaking 2018 season with a cracked rib. Kittle hopes offseason Yoga sessions with his sister, a Yoga instructor, helps to minimize his injuries.
"The more flexible you can get (the better) because sometimes when you get tackled, you land in some awkward positions, and stuff like that," Kittle said. "I have learned that when you're more flexible, stuff like that doesn't happen sometimes, where you just kind of tweak something. Hopefully, that will just help me to stay healthy."
