49ers’ Kittle Out with Hamstring Injury
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed on Monday that tight end George Kittle will be sidelined for several weeks due to a hamstring injury. Reports from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network suggest that Kittle might miss anywhere from three to five weeks and could be placed on the injured reserve list.
Kittle sustained the injury during the first half of the team’s 17-13 win against the Seattle Seahawks in their opening game. Until his exit, he had made a significant impact, catching four passes for 25 yards, including the first touchdown of the 2025 season. Kittle was seen heading into the medical tent in the second quarter, and not long after, he was on the sidelines donning a baseball cap, signaling that his game was over.
For clarity, to be placed on the injured reserve, players must miss at least four games, and they won’t count against the 53-player roster limit during this period. If Kittle is officially placed on IR this week, the soonest he could return would be for the team’s sixth-week road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 12th.
Kittle was among the top three fantasy tight ends based on average draft position, so his absence will significantly affect fantasy leagues in these early weeks of the season. Additionally, luck doesn’t seem to be on the 49ers’ side, as key players like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk have also faced their own injuries. Shanahan mentioned that the situation could become even more challenging for the team in the days ahead.
In Kittle’s absence, Luke Farrell will move up to TE1 for the 49ers, with Jateng filling the TE2 role. Farrell recently made a notable touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, which was also his first career touchdown.
Both Farrell and Jateng are currently owned by less than 1% of fantasy managers, so if needed this week, they should be readily available on the waiver wire. However, it’s likely that Kittle’s managers may have better options within their rosters to utilize during his absence.
