San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle plans to suit up for Saturday night's pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, despite dealing with a low-ankle sprain. While head coach Kyle Shanahan cautioned against reading too much into Kittle's practice participation, the All-Pro made his intentions clear.

Asked Wednesday if he expects to play, Kittle didn't hesitate: "Absolutely."


Kittle missed last weekend's win over the Chicago Bears after suffering the injury in the previous game against the Indianapolis Colts.

This weekend, the stakes are high, with the winner of the 49ers-Seahawks matchup securing the NFC West title and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.

When asked how he's feeling, Kittle said, "Fabulous. We're in a great position for Saturday night to clinch a one seed, so just with that, I'm doing fantastic."

General manager John Lynch said Kittle came close to playing, noting the tight end felt good the day before kickoff but woke up sore on game day. The 49ers ultimately chose not to risk further injury.

This week's practices will be lighter due to the short turnaround, but Kittle's participation is an encouraging sign for San Francisco as it pushes for playoff positioning.


"We obviously got to get through the week, but I'd be very surprised if George wasn't out there," Lynch said.

Kittle's return would be a significant boost for the 49ers' offense as it prepares for a high-stakes divisional showdown against Seattle.



Related News




Follow us on: X, Facebook, Threads, Instagram

Read Original Article
Visit 49ers Webzone

More San Francisco 49ers News