George Kittle Faces Ankle Injury Ahead of Key Matchup Against Bears

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is dealing with a mid to low ankle sprain. This injury gives intrigue as to if he’ll suit up on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears. It happened during the 49ers’ most recent game against the Indianapolis Colts, a dominating win for the 49ers, 48-27. Kittle’s status for what would be a huge Sunday night game will be extremely critical by the day.

Kittle suffered the injury during the 49ers’ first drive of the game. He was subsequently tackled in what he called a hip drop tackle. He willed himself through the pain, taping up his newly sprained ankle. Even with that injury, he put on a show, recording nine receptions for 183 yards and 3 TDs in a stellar outing. His health continued to deteriorate throughout the course of the game. Kittle’s ankle stiffened up, and he wasn’t able to return after half time.

“I don’t think it’s a high ankle sprain,” Kittle said, letting some optimism slip about the severity of his injury. He stressed that it would be a gradual process. They weren’t going to rush his recovery. We’ll just go one day at a time and we’ll see where we get to from there.”

Coach Kyle Shanahan is actively assessing Kittle’s situation, which could have significant implications for the 49ers’ remaining schedule. The team faces a short week ahead of their crucial Monday night game, making Kittle’s potential absence even more impactful. Next up for the 49ers are back-to-back home games with the Chicago Bears and division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. Should Kittle be unavailable, they’ll have to adjust their approach substantially to find success.

The tight end’s seventh career Pro Bowl selection reflects on his impact on the team. His ability to continue to take a large part of the passing game out of play has been a secret weapon in the 49ers’ tremendous success this year. Perhaps a more serious blow results in a longer absence. This absence could be detrimental to the team’s overall success as they continue to fight for a solid finish to the regular season.