It’s not like tight finish George Kittle has been lacking in motion since returning a bit of greater than a month in the past from a torn hamstring.
He’s been as relentlessly optimistic as ever, cracking up teammates whereas on the similar time inspiring them to do higher issues. It’s no accident the 49ers’ two finest dashing video games in opposition to Atlanta and the New York Giants got here with Kittle delivering key blocks and setting a bodily tone.
But Kittle and quarterback Mac Jones hadn’t made the game-day passing connection in the identical manner it occurred with Brock Purdy. That modified in a giant manner Sunday in a 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium.
When Purdy comes again, he is aware of the place his bread is buttered. It begins with Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Jones is aware of all about getting McCaffrey the ball and now he and Kittle are on the identical wavelength within the passing recreation.
Kittle caught 9 passes for 84 yards and scored on a 13-yard cross from Jones by which he someway stayed in bounds, extending the ball over the purpose line earlier than his knees hit the bottom.
“In my senior year (at Iowa), I had a similar play on the sideline,” Kittle mentioned within the aftermath. “My back foot hit out of bounds as I was entering the end zone, and they called me out of bounds on the 1-inch line. I was actually thinking about that when I was diving. I was thinking, ‘Keep your feet up!’ which is a wild flashback from nine years ago.”
The factors accounted for the ultimate rating, which no one was proud of. However reintroducing Kittle to the offense is a giant deal and can go a good distance towards figuring out if there’s a postseason of their future. They’re third wheels behind the Rams and Seattle within the NFC West at 6-4, however check out the 49ers’ subsequent 4 video games.
They go to Arizona (3-6), blown out Sunday by Seattle, which is tied with the Rams with the 2 groups going through off subsequent Sunday with Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on injured reserve. Then it’s again at Levi’s in opposition to Carolina (5-5), which has been higher than anticipated however stubbed its toe at dwelling in opposition to a really poor New Orleans workforce.
After that, the 49ers journey to Cleveland (2-8), which misplaced to the New York Jets, of all groups. Lastly there’s the Week 14 bye, after which again dwelling to play Tennessee, which had a bye week and is 1-8.
Not precisely assassin’s row. And whereas it’s no positive factor, you can also make a strong case for the 49ers to be 10-4 earlier than the ultimate 4 video games of the season: at Indianapolis (8-2), at dwelling in opposition to Chicago (6-3) and eventually at dwelling in opposition to Seattle (7-2) to shut out the season.
Even when they misplaced all three, the 49ers would not less than be on the periphery of a playoff berth, one thing that regarded hopeless when Nick Bosa and Fred Warner have been misplaced for the season. However 11 wins seems fairly doable regardless of the heavy losses.
Bosa and Warner have been available within the locker room to cheer on their teammates, however they will’t take that physicality and management onto the sphere like Kittle can. And when Kittle is an everyday a part of the passing recreation, it adjustments the 49ers’ character in addition to outlook.
“He brings energy and life to the offense and he’s dynamic,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk instructed NBC Sports activities Bay Space. “There’s not a lot of tight ends who can make premier plays like you saw today, where he’s toeing the sideline, reaching five yards and scoring a touchdown. He brings that in the pass game and brings physicality in the run game. Every time we have him out there, it just energizes everyone around him.”
George Kittle (95) eaches for a cross Sunday from Mac Jones in opposition to Kam Curl within the 49ers’ 42-26 loss at Levi’s Stadium. Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group
All of the vitality on this planet couldn’t overcome the 49ers shedding two turnovers on a fumble by Jauan Jennings and an interception on fourth down by Jones. And likewise committing seven penalties for 45 yards to none for the Rams.
Nobody disputes the Rams have the higher roster. They’re a professional Tremendous Bowl contender they usually confirmed it in opposition to the 49ers, who’re severely challenged defensively.
So severely challenged that the 49ers offense should be one thing approaching excellent. That didn’t occur on Sunday, however Kittle believes issues might be higher, they usually’ll acquire some momentum when it comes to well being when Ricky Pearsall Jr., Purdy and possibly Brandon Aiyuk rejoin the workforce when wholesome.
“I thoroughly believe we can score a ton of points, and I really do believe our defense will get a little bit better every single week,” Kittle mentioned. “I really believe that.”
Jones was 9-for-9 concentrating on Kittle, who had simply eight receptions for 68 yards and a landing in three video games since his return from injured reserve. The final time he caught 9 balls was in opposition to Cincinnati in 2023, and the final time he had greater than 9 was additionally in opposition to Cincinnati in 2021 — 13 receptions for 151 yards.
Jones wasn’t positive Kittle had scored the landing till he mentioned he had.
“He made a great play, making the touchdown catch and diving in,” Jones mentioned. “And he had a bunch of good catches in the game with tight coverage when they were holding him and stuff so he did a good job.”
However 20 factors, Kittle warned, is solely not sufficient. And it’s clear that with out the penalties and the turnovers, it might have been a recreation much like the 26-23 additional time win at SoFi Stadium that Kittle missed on Oct. 2. He’s satisfied coordinator Robert Saleh’s younger protection will get higher. The Rams publish the formidable offense the 49ers will see the remainder of the common season.
“They’re going to get some stops, and we have to continue to score a lot of points and not turn the ball over,” Kittle mentioned. “And our special teams is playing really well.”
You’re going to have a tough time convincing folks the 49ers have any type of likelihood to get to the Tremendous Bowl and profitable the division seems unlikely as properly.
However even attending to the playoffs is a win with how the 49ers are at present constituted, it doesn’t matter what the fan base thinks. And the person pointing the way in which is Kittle. That in itself ought to give followers some hope because the common season hits the house stretch.
