San Francisco 49ers players are probably growing increasingly tired of questions about the team's quarterback situation. Tight end George Kittle says he's just there to catch footballs. It doesn't matter who is throwing them. It's certainly a polite way of deflecting the questions.
Then there are responses like the one below. Yes, Kittle is clearly growing tired of hearing the same questions over and over, as if he's somehow going to come up with a new response.
Hey, @gkittle46! Are you sick of all the Garoppolo vs. Lance questions yet? #49ers pic.twitter.com/PcUwSK3GHr
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) August 20, 2021
So, when Kittle was asked about his quarterbacks again by Rich Eisen, who reluctantly presented the question, knowing that his interviewee was probably sick of the redundancy, the tight end responded in a very Kittle manner.
"Sorry, you broke up there," Kittle told Eisen during the phone interview before Eisen quickly burst into laughter.
Obviously, the topic of the competition (or non-competition, depending on who you ask) between veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and his eventual successor, rookie Trey Lance, is a popular one. Kittle was never going to escape the interview without discussing the two.
Eisen rephrased the question, not asking it in a manner that necessarily demands a comparison between the two quarterbacks but still inquiring about what it is like being around the situation.
"I'm just kind of experiencing it day to day," Kittle responded. "I get a bunch of reps with both quarterbacks. Like you said, Jimmy's been the captain and leader of this team. He still is. He's playing at a super high level with us in practice. We had a [15]-play drive to open up [the game on Sunday]."
Added Kittle: "I think both guys have made a lot of strides. I think Kyle (Shanahan) said it earlier in the [offseason] that Jimmy had his best OTAs, and I think Jimmy is still firing along right now."
Garoppolo is slated to be the quarterback throwing Kittle passes during Week 1 when the 49ers visit the Detroit Lions. And Garoppolo will likely remain the starter until he is injured or his play falters. If either happens, Lance will likely take over, and there will probably be no going back.
Lance is 21 years old, though, and didn't enter the NFL with a whole lot of collegiate experience on his résumé. At times, he has looked like a rookie. At other times, he has shown flashes of his potential. The latter has fans excited for the future.
"Trey's learning. He's getting better every single day," Kittle shared. "He's got a cannon for an arm. He can make a bunch of throws. It's fun to see that stuff. Obviously, he still has a ton to learn, and so we're just taking it day by day. We're just out there practicing, trying to get better as a team."
Eisen couldn't let Kittle go without asking about Lance's presence. At 6-foot-4 and around 225 pounds, the young quarterback stands out on the football field. Let's just say the All-Pro tight end, who is the same height and a couple of dozen pounds heavier, is impressed.
"Trey's a big dude. He's a massive human being," Kittle said. "It messes me up that he's only 21 years old because I'm like, 'Dude, I'm 27.' I was like, 'In three years, you're going to be an actual adult, and it will be crazy to see what you look like then.'"
