ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the San Francisco 49ers are placing star tight end George Kittle on the injured reserve (IR) list, sidelining him for the next four games. Kittle is expected to be eligible to return in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kittle sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter of Sunday's 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. On Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan initially said Kittle would miss "a few weeks," while NFL insider Ian Rapoport clarified that the timeline could be three to five weeks, making an IR stint a possibility.
Sources: 49ers are placing Pro Bowl TE George Kittle on injured reserve, meaning he now will miss at least the next four games. Kittle injured his hamstring during Sunday's win over Seattle and now will miss games at New Orleans, vs. Atlanta, Jacksonville and at the Rams. pic.twitter.com/f73zf9tjcZ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2025
"When they tell me a few weeks, it's always a possibility," Shanahan said. "I mean, in order to do that, it's got to be a four-week injury, so I don't think we've decided on that yet."
Kittle finished Sunday's game with four catches for 25 yards and a touchdown. Last season, he recorded his fourth career 1,000-yard season, totaling 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 78 receptions.
The six-time Pro Bowl tight end is in his ninth NFL season and has recorded 7,405 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns over his career.