SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Because the San Francisco 49ers wait and watch to see what number of of their key injured gamers shall be obtainable Sunday in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, tight finish George Kittle is leaving no room for debate.
“I shall be taking part in on Sunday,” Kittle stated Wednesday afternoon. “Very excited. Cannot go up taking part in the Packers, so no, I shall be on the market for positive.”
Kittle participated in Wednesday’s observe on a restricted foundation after a hamstring damage saved him out of final week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Kittle reported hamstring “irritation” within the days after the Niners’ Nov. 10 win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Although Kittle did not observe final Wednesday, he was a restricted participant on Thursday and Friday, which appeared to place him to play in opposition to the Seahawks. He stated Wednesday that for many of final week the hamstring gave the impression to be bettering, however it wasn’t the place he wished it to be when the weekend arrived.
“Saturday was a troublesome day,” Kittle stated. “I assumed I felt fairly good on Friday. Saturday did not really feel nice after which Sunday was simply not in a ok place to be like, ah, let’s go on the market and push it. I do not assume I might’ve been my finest self anyway.”
Kittle was inactive and sorely missed in opposition to the Seahawks because the Niners struggled to a season-low output in yards from scrimmage (277) and tied for a season low in factors (17). Within the eight video games he has performed this season, Kittle has been the group’s most efficient go catcher with 43 receptions for 560 yards and 7 touchdowns.
That is the primary hamstring damage Kittle has handled since he was a rookie, but when he does certainly return Sunday, it will not be the primary time he has come again from an damage in opposition to the Packers. In 2019, Kittle returned from ankle and knee accidents to submit six catches for 129 yards and a landing in a win in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.
Kittle has frequently performed by damage throughout his profession, however he and the Niners determined it wasn’t well worth the threat to probably injure the hamstring additional by making an attempt to play in opposition to Seattle.
“They’re simply actually finicky and it is a kind of issues that you could simply be operating a random route and hastily you pull it much more after which it is 4 to 6 weeks after which I am on in all probability season-ending IR,” Kittle stated. “It was simply one thing we wished to ensure I had full confidence in and I didn’t have full confidence in it.”
Although Kittle is filled with confidence {that a} return to the sector is imminent, the Niners have a handful of different vital gamers who bear monitoring this week. Quarterback Brock Purdy popped up on the damage report Monday due to soreness in his proper (throwing) shoulder.
Coach Kyle Shanahan stated Purdy can be day-to-day however stated he did not have a lot concern Purdy can be out Sunday “proper now” as Purdy participated in Wednesday’s observe.
“We’ll see how this week goes, however he was restricted as we speak in order that’s good,” Shanahan stated.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward additionally returned to observe Wednesday after being away from the group to grieve the loss of life of his 1-year-old daughter. Ward rejoined the group over the weekend, attended the sport in opposition to the Seahawks and was in conferences Monday.
As a result of he hasn’t practiced since earlier than the Oct. 27 win in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, Ward was additionally restricted Wednesday.
“That is going to be his first observe right here shortly,” Shanahan stated. “I actually have no expectations of it. Going to take it sluggish, see how he’s on the market as we speak and watch him all through the week and talk with him all through the week and decide as we get nearer to recreation time.”
Recreation-time choices is also within the offing for star left deal with Trent Williams and defensive finish Nick Bosa. Williams (ankle) and Bosa (hip/indirect) didn’t observe Wednesday after taking part in by their accidents in opposition to Seattle.
Bosa injured each hips and each obliques up to now couple of weeks, however the appropriate hip/indirect difficulty that bothered him going into the Seattle recreation has improved whereas the left aspect has lingered. Which implies Bosa is prone to observe an identical plan to final week when he did not observe in any respect the primary two days then was restricted Friday.
“It will get higher each day,” Bosa stated. “We’ll see. Positively just a little early to name it both means, however we’ll discover out in a couple of days.”
Williams performed by his ankle difficulty in opposition to the Seahawks after not practising in any respect final week. Shanahan stated Williams and Bosa can be given as a lot time as wanted to attempt to be obtainable in Inexperienced Bay.
“In relation to a man like Bosa, in terms of a man like Trent, their place, the veterans they’re, how they play, these guys have all the way in which to kick off for me,” Shanahan stated.
