Star tight end George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers suffered a re-aggravated rib injury during the team's Week 4 blowout victory over the New England Patriots.
He was designated as questionable prior to the Niners' Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. However, he was able to participate in that game, logging 57 snaps and finishing with eight receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown on a total of 12 targets.
It is natural that there are concerns about Kittle's rib issue potentially continuing into Week 6 since he missed several practices in the week before the game last weekend.
Kittle appears to still be having trouble with the injury, but he was able to log limited participation in practice on Monday and Tuesday.
Due to the 49ers' scheduled short week and their Week 6 road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, Kittle won't have much time to heal.
However, Kittle's participation in Monday and Tuesday practices may indicate that the team didn't want to overwork one of their most valuable offensive weapons. Should that be the case, he could be able to play his typical role on Thursday against the Seahawks.
George Kittle has caught 23 passes on 29 targets for 225 yards and three touchdowns in four games this season.
The Niners will make the final decision on Kittle’s availability status after their final practice on Wednesday. If he's able to upgrade to full practice, then he will definitely play on Thursday.
If Kittle's injury prevents him from suiting up on Thursday, Eric Saubert will most likely be the next player in line.
George Kittle injury update: What happened to the 49ers' TE?
George Kittle scored a touchdown for the 49ers in their Week 4 victory over the New England Patriots, but he also had a rib injury that kept him out of practice for the first two days after that game.
After being initially listed as questionable to play against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, Kittle eventually played in that game without any injury worries. However, he was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday as the Niners started preparation for their Thursday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Kittle is an essential blocker in the Niners' running offense and an efficient pass catcher in the receiving game. If he is healthy in Week 6, quarterback Brock Purdy will rely on him, especially with Christian McCaffrey still out with an injury of his own.
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