Brent Jones may be the best tight end to ever play for the San Francisco 49ers. George Kittle will likely take that title before his playing days are over. Jones, who spent 11 seasons with San Francisco, knows a thing or two about tight end play, and the 49ers great has loved watching Kittle during this early portion of his NFL career.
The Minnesota Vikings, who have managed tight ends well this season, held Kittle to just three receptions for 16 yards, his lowest single-game receiving yards total this season, and his fewest since December 10, 2017.
Jones joined KNBR on Monday and said he expects a big game out of Kittle on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
"I thought the Vikings had a couple of athletes that could maybe take away Kittle," Jones said on the Tolbert, Krueger and Brooks show. "I don't think the Packers do. I think we're going to see a big George Kittle (game) this week, for sure.
"They're not going to be able to do what the Vikings did to Kittle, and there's too many other things, now, that they have to account for, run-game-wise, and I just think the Packers are out-manned."
In the first meeting between the two teams, which was Kittle's first back from injury, the tight end hauled in six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Jones isn't just confident Kittle will, once again, find success against the Packers defense on Sunday, but he feels the 49ers will win the NFC Championship Game bout and advance to Miami for the Super Bowl.
"Stamp your ticket, baby," Jones declared. "You know what? I'm throwing down. I just believe that this team is very unique. They're young, they're talented, they're enthused. Lock-o-rama."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Jones below.