Here’s the latest on San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who suffered a hamstring injury during the season‑opening win over the Seattle Seahawks on September 7, 2025. I’ll break down what’s known, what’s expected, and what it could mean for the team—all in flowing narrative form, as requested.
George Kittle exited the season opener early in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, after contributing four catches for 25 yards and a five‑yard touchdown that gave the 49ers an early lead . The team immediately ruled him out for the remainder of the game and scheduled an MRI for the following Monday to evaluate the extent of the damage
Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the MRI and noted the severity would determine next steps . Reports now indicate Kittle is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks due to a “significant” hamstring injury, with some sources suggesting a timeline of three to five weeks off; placing him on injured reserve (IR) is a strong possibility, which would enforce a minimum four‑game absence
If Kittle is placed on IR, his earliest return would likely come around Week 6 The uncertainty of his return timeline is now a critical concern for the 49ers’ offense, which already was operating with a thin tight end depth chart.
This injury compounds a major problem for San Francisco, which saw starting quarterback Brock Purdy also carted off with injuries to his left shoulder and toe—especially the toe, which looked worrisome—raising serious questions about his availability for Week 2 Meanwhile, wide receiver Jauan Jennings is also in the mix of players undergoing scans after exiting with a shoulder injury
As the 49ers grapple with these setbacks, they’ve already taken action to bolster the receiving group, re-signing wide receiver Kendrick Bourne to a one‑year deal and preparing for increased snaps from tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges, who stepped up in Kittle’s absence during the opener
From a fantasy football perspective, Kittle’s absence is a significant blow. He’s been a top‑tier tight end for years, and with a projected 3–5 week recovery—possibly a stint on IR—his managers will need to pivot to more reliable streaming options. The most available internal replacements include Farrell and Tonges, but many fantasy players are eyeing more established options like Juwan Johnson or Hunter Henry
On a broader note, this string of injuries early in the season underscores what has become a familiar theme for the 49ers: last year, they ranked fourth in the league for most games missed due to injury
To recap: Kittle exited early on September 7, 2025 with a hamstring injury and underwent an MRI; he’s now expected to miss several weeks—possibly landing on IR—and won’t likely be back until around Week 6. This comes amid a broader wave of injuries impacting the 49ers, including uncertainty around Purdy and Jennings, forcing the team to lean on depth and recently re-signed Kendrick Bourne to compensate.
Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of how this affects upcoming game plans, fantasy projections, or what this means for the 49ers’ offensive strategy over the next month.
