George Kittle was not on the practice field with his teammates on Friday after missing Thursday's outing. The San Francisco 49ers tight end is recovering from knee and ankle injuries suffered during last week's Halloween matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Kittle will have another chance to get some work in on the practice field before Monday night's NFC West showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers will hold one more practice, a Saturday session, before game day.
Kittle underwent an MRI last Friday, which didn't reveal any long-term damage, but also did not come back completely clean.
"There's issues," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday. "So, yes. He's got things in his knee and ankle, so we'll see."
General manager John Lynch said on Friday morning that he was relieved Kittle's injury wasn't more serious, especially after watching replays of it from his box at State Farm Stadium.
"I'm sitting there on [Thursday] night, and I've got the luxury of having a replay right over me," Lynch said. "And as I saw that, I said, 'Oh no.' I mean, that did not look good the way that knee hyperextended. And then next thing you know, Kittle is in there doing what he does — breaking loose and busting loose."
Lynch believes his tight end will do whatever he can to get back on the football field.
"He injured both his knee and ankle," Lynch continued. "I think the prognosis is good in terms of nothing long-term, and we all know, with George, he's as tough as they come."
Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (foot, quadricep) and tight end Levine Toilolo (groin) didn't practice on Thursday but got some light work in on Friday.
Linebacker Kwon Alexander (pectoral), who had season-ending surgery on Tuesday, observed his teammates from the sideline.
Kwon Alexander, who had surgery to repair his left pec on Tuesday, is on hand for practice. I expect him to be around the team a lot. pic.twitter.com/ayDcU4MEh3
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 8, 2019
Kicker Robbie Gould (quad strain) was not out on the practice field on Friday. San Francisco signed rookie kicker Chase McLaughlin on Thursday.
Ahkello Witherspoon (foot, quad) was on hand for the warmups portion of today's practice. TE Levine Toilolo (groin) also back
No George Kittle or Robbie Gould.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 8, 2019
