San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle provoked a bit of concern for Niners fans after he missed practice on Wednesday, but he told reporters the absence was merely a precaution.
Kittle said his ankle feels “fabulous” ahead of the team's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday (via Jelani Scott of NFL.com).
Following a rainy Thursday afternoon practice in Santa Clara, Calif., George Kittle made one thing clear.
Nothing, most notably the nagging ankle injury that sidelined from practice Wednesday, will keep the San Francisco 49ers star tight end from playing in the NFC Championship Game against the Packers.
“I feel fabulous, thanks for asking,” Kittle said with a smile after being asked at the start of his press conference both how he was feeling and how his ankle was doing. Kittle officially was a full participant in practice Thursday.
Kittle has been playing with a fracture in his ankle since the end of October, though he did sit out to rest said ankle during Week 10 and Week 11 earlier this season.
The 26-year-old has made plenty of plays as a receiver throughout the season, but he is equally valuable in the running game. Kittle had just three receptions for 16 yards during San Francisco's 27-10 NFC Divisional win over the Minnesota Vikings, but he was instrumental in creating running lanes for the likes of Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert as the Niners rushed for 186 yards and two scores.
It might be safe to assume that–barring some kind of amputation–Kittle is going to be on the field regardless of the condition of his ankle. He is an emotional leader for San Francisco, and he has repeatedly showed his grit and determination by playing injured during the latter half of the season.
Follow Us
Subscribe