Evans left the game after putting together a strong first half, hauling in 3 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown before taking a direct helmet shot to his oblique area, which caused him to leave the game before ultimately being carted off to the locker room. Head coach Kyle Shanahan later told the media that the team does not yet know the exact extent of the injury, noting they couldn’t immediately tell if it was a broken rib or an oblique issue, with further clarity expected following tests on Monday.
With Evans sidelined, quarterback Brock Purdy leaned heavily on George Kittle, who paced the passing attack with 6 catches, 82 yards, and two touchdowns. Assuming Evans misses significant time, and with Demarcus Robinson on injured reserve, the 49er WR corps could be more shorthanded than usual. The only other active receivers on the roster today were Jacob Cowling (2 targets), Jordan Watkins (0 targets), and Khadarel Hodge (0 targets), although the team did recently sign veteran Brandin Cooks to the practice squad.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (illness) was ...
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is emerging as ...
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has returned to...
De’zhaun Stribling went into the medical tent earlier in the 49ers Week 1 game vs. the Rams and, shortly after returning, had to be helped off the field and eventually carted to the locker room after a non-contact injury.
The 49ers and fantasy football managers alike are hoping that this is just a scare and nothing serious, as Stribling is expected to have a key role for the 49ers after losing WR Ricky Pearsall for the season to a PCL injury. Stribling is ranked No. 49 in PlayerProfiler’s WR redraft rankings. For now, we hold our breaths while we wait for updates from the 49ers on Stribling.
49ers OC Klay Kubiak says George Kittle “looks good” for Week 1, adding that the veteran tight end’s workload will be determined after two more practices. Kittle appears on track to suit up against the Rams, but the snap count question matters after his recent injury absence and creates some early season volatility.
PlayerProfiler’s TE12 still shows the elite ceiling with a 24.6% target rate and 13 red zone targets in his previous season, reinforcing what Kittle can do when given a full workload. Kittle is trending toward playing, but fantasy managers should price in a reduced workload until the 49ers prove they are ready to unleash him. Until then, expect Jake Tonges to fill in and Brock Purdy to spread his passes out.
George Kittle remains sidelined from practice while targeting activation from the PUP list ahead of the 49ers’ Week 1 opener in Melbourne. Top-speed running marks provide optimism, but his ramp-up window points to a return to game action between Weeks 1 and 4.
Coming off a season with 2.24 Yards Per Route Run (No. 3) and 14.7 Fantasy Points Per Game (No. 3), Kittle retains locked-in TE1 production the moment he hits the field. Kittle is PlayerProfiler’s TE9 for 2026 fantasy football drafts.
Kyle Juszczyk claims George Kittle has a realistic chance to return for Week 1, backed by reports of the tight end hitting 16 miles per hour in workouts. A September return from a postseason Achilles tear is a compressed timeline, but Kittle is a physical marvel who averaged 14.7 Fantasy Points Per Game (No. 3) last season.
Early-season injury uncertainty continues to dampen Kittle’s fantasy appeal. His elite 2.24 Yards Per Route Run (No. 3) and +56.2 Expected Points Added (No. 2) make him a major value at his suppressed ADP.
George Kittle expects to return from an Achilles’ tendon rupture by Week 1 to face the Rams. The veteran tight end is coming off a condensed 11-game season where he secured 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns.
While the health track is worth monitoring, his efficient profile remains the foundational engine of this San Francisco passing offense. Smash the [Draft Player] button as long as Kittle’s ADP is still depressed.
