San Francisco 49ers Star TE George Kittle to Return in Week 16

George Kittle with the 49ers
George Kittle with the 49ers. Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/Shutterstock

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle is scheduled to play this weekend after being sidelined with a foot injury since Week 8.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made the announcement this week, saying that Kittle’s fractured foot is fully healed. Many experts are questioning whether it is smart to play the star tight end and risk further injury, considering that there are only two games left in the season and that San Francisco has already been eliminated from playoff contention.

The 49ers, who were NFC champions and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s Super Bowl, were absolutely devastated by injuries this season. The laundry list of serious injuries suffered by San Francisco players this season includes quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, star defensive ends Nick Bosa and Dee Ford, running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman, center Weston Richburg, and more.

When he does take the field this week, Kittle is expected to catch passes from San Francisco’s third-string quarterback C.J. Beathard, after Garoppolo’s replacement Nick Mullens suffered an injury that knocked him out of last week’s game.

Shanahan said that even though Kittle feels great, he will be on a pitch count and the team plans to play it safe with their star pass-catcher and ease him into the gameplan.

San Francisco will face their division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, who are still in the playoff hunt and currently boast an 8-6 record.