George Kittle again absent from practice as 49ers continue preparing for Bears

Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle did not practice on Christmas Day, but the 49ers still are holding out hope he can be present and in uniform on Sunday.Kittle is the only player who was held out of 49ers practice on Thursday, as the team continues preparations to face the Chicago Bears on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.“He’s got a chance, so we’re not ruling him out,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday about Kittle’s chances of playing in Week 17.Kittle sustained an ankle sprain in the 49ers’ 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night.Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and cornerback Renardo Green took part in a second consecutive day of limited work on the 49ers’ practice field in Santa Clara.Pearsall (ankle, knee) and Green (neck) were inactive for the 49ers’ game on Monday night. Pearsall sustained his injury in the team’s Week 16 game against the Tennessee Titans.Kittle, who was named to the seventh Pro Bowl of his nine-year NFL career, has 52 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games this season.With 590 career receptions, Kittle is just two receptions behind Hall of...