Oct 23, 2025
3 min read
A violation with abuse that had injuries due to injuries, but when the kidnappers return, the unit can go out.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- On Sunday night, moments after going a complete game without a catch for the first time in his eight-plus NFL seasons, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle was his usual gritty self.
Kittle didn't particularly remember that his streak of 114 games, the longest career rushing streak since the Afl-NFL merger in 1970, was over.Notably, after playing a major role in the jump-arven niners' rushing attack in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
“I want to get the ball,” Kittle said."I like to catch the ball. I like to hit people, I like to run in open space. But like I said, if other guys get a chance and win one-on-one, I'll take it. I want to win and I want to keep winning because it's a lot more fun than running 100 yards and losing."
If the Niners (5-2) are to win, Kittle will have to play a significant role -- either as a blocker in the run game, a receiving threat in the passing game, a magnet to attract attention to opposing defenses or some combination of the three.
But while the comeback season from injury was a good five-game stretch that didn't come with big numbers, it was carved out as possible if Quarterback Brock
Kyle Shanahan is likely to return Sunday against the Houston Texans if Purdy (right thumb) and Purdy (right knee) are monitored later in the week, according to the coach.
There is still no good timetable for the return of receiver Brandon Iuk (knee), though Shanahan's 10-week suspension is a reasonable factor.Guard Ben Barch (right), guard Spencer Burford (knee) and receiver Jacob Grant (hamstring) are nearing returns.
All of this means the 49ers could be in for some serious offensive reinforcements soon, even though this team has no such thing as a fully healthy team.(Example A: Jake Brandl will be without the offense for "a few weeks" due to a hamstring injury.)
Getting the offense close to full strength is ideal as the defense is coming off a season-long absence of linebacker Fred Warner (strained and broken right ankle) and end Nick Bosa (torn right ACL).
"We've got to step up," right tackle Colton McVitz said."On offense, is there more urgency to score? Yes. Is there more urgency to run the ball better? Yeah, I mean, in the passing game as well. It's time for us to start firing on all cylinders."
Through the first seven games, the Niners may have been a little short, but that doesn't mean they haven't been productive.A closer examination of their production would suggest that the offense is close to breaking into the top of the league, if only they can improve in a few key areas.
When stopped, the 49ers are sixth in the <DFL> in sacks per game (22.7) and 18th in yards per game (5.3).
The disconnect can be traced to too many turnovers (11, tied for fifth), difficulty completing drives in the red zone (47.8 percent, 25th in the league) and a lack of explosiveness on offense (38 runs of 10 yards or more and catches of 20 yards or more, tied for 19th).
At least one solution to all of these problems can be found in Kittle, who has two fumbles in his career, the third-most red zone catches for a touchdown (21) among tight ends since 2021 and the second-most receptions of 20-plus yards (116) since 2017.
While Kittle doesn't catch the ball for big gains, his impact in the run game is undeniable, and unlocking that part of the offense could have a positive impact on the aforementioned problem areas.In San Francisco's first six games, he had just nine explosive runs (gains of 10-plus yards).With Kittle back against the Falcons, the Niners had eight such conversations.
Putting Kittle in the lineup adds dominant run blocking to the mix and keeps the defense honest, which is why the Falcons threw double and triple teams at Kittle while running back Christian McCaffrey celebrated.Käsikirjoitus voi kääntyä milloin tahansa, ja Aiyukin, Pearsallin ja muiden palauttaminen vain laajentaa näitä vaihtoehtoja.
Kendrick Bourne said, “Everything changes [with those people].”"Not to take anything away from anyone else, but George is one of them. ... I'm looking forward to having him and Ricky help us again, but it's going to open up different windows for me and CMC and everyone else, and it's going to be fun."
Getting big plays back into the mix is a big plus for the 49ers, though there's also a strong case for the defense making their offense.
Since Shanahan's arrival in 2017, fans have 99999 fans, the most in the NFL.But those games were hard to come by this season as the defense focused on MCCAFFREY and SCEAT around the catchers around the field.
"Overall, it's harder to get doubles in the rim now, the way the game is played," 49ers quarterback Drallrintator Kubiak said."It's not like you have to do it right or anything. You think you'll come if you keep doing it."
None of this takes away from what Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell and receivers Bourne, Juwan Jennings and DeMarcus Robinson have done to keep the offense going through the first part of the season.The reality of how the Niners approach defenses when they don't have their full field of stars is part of what made McCaffrey's performance so impressive.That, and he still leads the league in scrimmage yards (981).
As long as he is healthy, the offense will remain McCaffrey-centric for the foreseeable future.
But it's not hard to imagine a day soon when the defense will have to pick its poison.Meanwhile, the Niners don't expect to be at full strength this season.Because they know better than most what is required of them without so many key players.
"There are teams that are just brutally hurt by injuries, and at the end of the day, outside of your locker room, nobody really gives a ...," Kittle said."And regardless of who's there and who's not there, the Niners are going to try to play to the standard that we've set."
