{"id":4875,"date":"2026-07-19T11:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4875"},"modified":"2026-07-19T11:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:40:14","slug":"49ers-face-tight-end-bind-as-they-enter-training-camp-with-kittle-injured","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4875","title":{"rendered":"49ers face tight end bind as they enter training camp with Kittle injured"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SANTA CLARA \u2013 George Kittle, through nine remarkable years, has the second-most receptions in 49ers history.<\/p>\n

Read more Oakland school closure raises statewide questions over charter renewals<\/a><\/p>\n

So when does he have an Achilles healthy enough to close that little 686-catch gap on Jerry Rice?<\/p>\n

That is the 49ers\u2019 biggest question, and until he is cleared, they are in a bind, entering training camp with essentially the same options from last season.<\/p>\n

Less than eight months after his right Achilles ruptured in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, Kittle can take aim at playing in the 49ers\u2019 season opener against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n

But if he opens camp on the Physically Unable To Perform list and remains there the opening four games, no one would blame the 49ers for protecting their franchise\u2019s most proficient tight end ever.<\/p>\n

They did not draft a tight end among an eight-man class, nor did they sign a veteran in free agency, at least not yet. Here is how the unit looks entering camp:<\/p>\n

TONGES\u2019 STAR TURN\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jake Tonges made an unexpected and stirring rise as Kittle\u2019s understudy on last season\u2019s stage. Of his five touchdowns, the first came in game-winning fashion in Week 1 at eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Tonges got rewarded with a new contract (two years, $8 million) for potentially more heaving lifting the early part of this season. His 34 career receptions (all from last season) are a mere 561 shy of Kittle, who also has 52 touchdown career catches.<\/p>\n

Read more Asking Eric: My ex-wife lied, and our daughter cut me off<\/a><\/p>\n

JUSZCZYK MOONLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk is entering his 10th season with the Niners (as is Kittle) and could see more tight end duties than ever. Then again, his lead-back role is imperative if the 49ers are to recharge their rushing attack. It will be curious to see how much time, if any, he spends with the tight ends in camp.<\/p>\n

ROOKIE UPSIDE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Khalil Dinkins, undrafted out of Penn State, is viewed more of an in-line blocker when deploying multiple tight ends, although his running ability shouldn\u2019t be overlooked. His four-year collegiate total: 37 catches, 3999 yards, seven touchdowns; Kittle was 48-737-10 in his Iowa tenure.<\/p>\n

OTHER OPTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luke Farrell was hired a year ago as a blocking specialist, yet his most critical play came when a Brock Purdy pass\u00a0to him was intercepted in the 49ers\u2019 playoff exit at Seattle.<\/p>\n

Brayden Willis has fared well in past camps, yet he hasn\u2019t drawn a target through three seasons (23 games). Hayden Rucci, formerly of the Lions and the Dolphins, joined in January, so this will be his first 49ers\u2019 training camp.<\/p>\n

COACHING CORNER<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYou work together. That\u2019s my coaching style in general. You work with everybody in the room. \u2018Hey, how do you see this route? What do you think?\u2019 I\u2019m able to take the way Kyle (Shanahan) sees the game and the way they see it, and kind of combine it. George has been good to me. If I see something, he\u2019ll say, \u2018Cam, what do you think of this?\u2019\u201d \u2013 Cameron Clemons, who was promoted to tight end coach once Brian Fleury became the Seahawks\u2019 offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

BY THE NUMBERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every 49ers tight end is listed at 6-foot-4 (except Farrell at 6-5) and between 240 and 250 pounds.<\/p>\n

Read more Horoscopes July 19, 2026: Jared Padalecki, look for the positive in everyone and everything<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Will the 49ers clear George Kittle at all during training camp or put him on an injury list through the start of the season?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n49ers face tight end bind as they enter training camp with Kittle injured - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4875\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"49ers face tight end bind as they enter training camp with Kittle injured - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Will the 49ers clear George Kittle at all during training camp or put him on an injury list through the start of the season?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=4875\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-19T11:40:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"49ers face tight end bind as they enter training camp with Kittle injured\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-19T11:40:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875\"},\"wordCount\":579,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/556c40143387f8a619e588ff88a7ead4.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=4875\",\"name\":\"49ers face tight end bind as they enter training camp with Kittle injured - 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