49ers’ George Kittle surpasses 1,000 receiving yards for second consecutive season

George Kittle's record-breaking season last year is proving to be no fluke. The San Francisco 49ers tight end has recorded his second consecutive season of 1,000-or-more receiving yards. And that's after missing two games this year with knee and ankle injuries.

As of this post, Kittle has five receptions for 74 yards in the 49ers' Week 17 rematch against the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle was unavailable for the first matchup between the two teams, which was the first of his two missed games this season.

Update: Kittle finished the game with seven receptions for 86 yards. His 1,053 receiving yards this season make him the fifth player and first tight end in franchise history to record multiple 1,000-yard-receiving seasons.

"I'm sure George, just like everyone, will be juiced up," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said this past week. "He always brings it, game day, practice, whatever it is. The energy that he brings is huge for us, so it will be good to have him this time."

Kittle, who is in his third NFL season, entered Week 17 just 33 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards. He had 78 receptions for 967 yards with five touchdowns heading into tonight's matchup.

"He's the top player on the team," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said via a conference call this past week. "He's everything. They can build the whole game around him, and count on him and all that.

"He has grown in the years we've been here and watched him. He's just become an extraordinary player and performer and all that. Hopefully, we can find a way to match up somehow."