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The San Francisco 49ers high-powered offense will not feature tight end George Kittle in back-to-back weeks. According to Darren Urban of the Arizona Cardinals' official website, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Kittle for Week 11's matchup with the Cardinals.
Kittle has dealt with knee and ankle issues since facing, and beating, the Cardinals in Week 9. Though his injury status was deemed minor after defeating Arizona, that does not appear to be the case. He did not participate in Wednesday's practice. The team did not employ his help in their Week 10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Kittle escaped the media scrum on Wednesday, telling the jumble of reporters asking for updates “Close, guys,” per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury. He did not have a bad limp, according to Inman.
Said coach Shanahan before deeming Kittle as out:
“Kittle’s just a little bit of a different bird,” Shanahan said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re never going to decide on Kittle too early in the week. He’s always got a chance with some of the stuff he’s been able to go through here in these last couple years.”
Kittle is San Francisco's primary receiving threat. On the year, the third-year, 2018 Pro Bowler has amassed 46 receptions for 541 yards and two touchdowns. He is also considered to be one of the NFL's elite blocking tight ends.
In 2018, Kittle broke the NFL's record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a season (1,377). He did so while hauling in 88 receptions and tallying five touchdowns.
