San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is coming off a historic 2018 NFL season. Perhaps even more impressive was his newly-discovered high tolerance for pain.
Kittle suffered a rib injury against the Oakland Raiders in early November. According to David Lombardi of The Athletic, he is admittedly surprised it was not more bothersome:
George Kittle said he suffered “fractured rib cartilage” on the 49ers’ third play of the game versus the Raiders. So his spectacular one-handed catch-and-run came after that injury. “I thought it was going to hurt much more than it did,” Kittle said.
It is no secret that NFL players tend to be cut from a different cloth when it comes to dealing with injuries. Kittle proved to not only be one of the best tight ends in the league but one of its toughest as well. He finished the 2018 campaign with an NFL-record 1,377 yards, which means most of his production came after the injury.
Kittle has proven to be quite the steal for San Francisco following his breakout performance last season. The former Iowa product was originally selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Although he showed plenty of promise his rookie season, he was able to establish himself as the 49ers' top option in the passing game last year.
Expectations are now higher than ever for Kittle with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo back under center. It is safe to say that he will serve as a safety net for Garoppolo in the offense. Despite his toughness, the 49ers would be wise to ensure he is 100 percent healthy moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe