Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kliff Kingsbury is confident Cardinals will have to face 49ers’ George Kittle on Sunday
Nov 13, 2019 at 10:40 AM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Tight end
George Kittle couldn't finish the San Francisco 49ers' first matchup with the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9. He took a blow to the leg from Cardinals defensive end Chandler Jones' helmet, toughed through most of the game, but was finally sidelined at the end.
Kittle did not play during Monday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and his status for Sunday's rematch against the Cardinals is uncertain due to knee and ankle injuries.
Kliff Kingsbury isn't counting the Pro Bowl tight end out. The Cardinals head coach jumped on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday and was asked by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area if he expects to see Kittle at his best this weekend.
"No doubt," Kingsbury responded. "I thought it was amazing that he was able to stay in our game and push through, and have such a great night.
"He's one of the best, if not the best, tight ends in the league. Just kind of a physical freak, and that's matched by his personality, his relentlessness, his want to. It's through the roof, and, as a competitor, you appreciate that, and I'm sure he'll be ready to go on Sunday."
Kittle finished the Week 9 matchup with six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday that he is hopeful Kittle can suit up on Sunday, but nothing is certain at this point.
"Kittle has a much bigger injury, but Kittle's just a little bit of a different bird,"
Shanahan said when comparing the tight end's status to that of kicker Robbie Gould. "We're never going to decide on Kittle too early in the week. He's always got a chance with some of the stuff he's been able to go through here in these last couple of years."
Related News
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
