George Kittle, Elijah Mitchell Remain Limited Friday
George Kittle (calf) and running back Elijah Mitchell (rib) recorded their respective second consecutive limited practice sessions Friday. Both players were able to log at least two-thirds of the team's offensive snaps in Week 9, giving reason to expect that both should be able to take the field in some capacity Monday against the Rams. Kittle was out for over a month due to a calf ailment, but he immediately showed his All-Pro form in his first game back, exceeding the 100-yard plateau and hauling in a touchdown. Mitchell, after stellar performances in back-to-back weeks, was held to just 36 yards on eight carries. Should the rookie running back be unavailable, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Trenton Cannon will be names to keep an eye on at the eleventh hour. Check back for updates on Kittle and Mitchell as they become available closer to kickoff.
Source: Jourdan Rodrigue
San Francisco 49ers tight end Source: Jourdan Rodrigue
George Kittle Wants To Be Highest-Paid Tight End
George Kittle wants to become the league's highest-paid tight end, a league source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Kittle would have to top the four-year, $76 million deal that 25-year-old Trey McBride recently inked with the Arizona Cardinals. So far the 49ers' offers to Kittle have been rebuffed, and the two sides are far apart from a deal, which is why Kittle didn't show up to the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts earlier this week. He will be turning 32 in October and is set to enter the start of the final year of his current deal in 2025. Other teams are keeping an eye out, but so far, Kittle isn't requesting a trade. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Kittle finished as the TE2 in PPR scoring in 2024 thanks to 78 catches, 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. He'll be an injury-prone, high-end fantasy TE1 that thrives on per-target efficiency rather than volume.
Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
San Francisco 49ers tight end Source: The Athletic - Dianna Russini
George Kittle Skips Start Of 49ers Offseason Program
George Kittle did not report to the start of team offseason activities, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The six-time Pro Bowl selection is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn a base salary of $14.4 million. The Iowa product put another fantastic season together in 2024, collecting 78 receptions for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. The 31-year-old is one of the best tight ends of his generation and has five seasons of at least 900 receiving yards on his career resume. If Kittle wants a contract extension and a raise, he has earned it. He currently ranks behind Trey McBride, Travis Kelce, and T.J. Hockenson in average salary among tight ends and is likely to take on a bigger workload after the departure of Deebo Samuel Sr.
Source: NFL.com
San Francisco 49ers tight end Source: NFL.com
George Kittle May Not Take Part In Offseason Workouts
George Kittle will attend voluntary activities as he seeks a new contract, according to The Athletic's Michael Silver. Kittle is heading into the final year of a five-year, $75 million deal and is considered much more of a long shot to get something done because he and the team remain far apart in contract discussions. Even though Kittle is on the wrong side of 30 and is an injury risk, he was the TE2 in half-PPR scoring in 2024 thanks to 78 catches on 94 targets for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games played. It was even more impressive due to the fact that he played much of the season with cracked ribs. Because of his production last year, Kittle will continue to be a high-end tight end target in fantasy drafts this fall, but the risk is also high given his propensity for injuries.
Source: The Athletic - Michael Silver
There is some uncertainty as to whether San Francisco 49ers tight end Source: The Athletic - Michael Silver
George Kittle Discussing Extension With 49ers
George Kittle have been in talks about a contract extension early this offseason. The 31-year-old is heading into the final year of his current deal in 2025 after a strong 2024 campaign in which he caught 78 passes on 94 targets for 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 15 starts. The production was all the more impressive after he revealed that he played through cracked ribs for much of the season, and he also missed two games with a hamstring ailment. Kittle's 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns were both the second-best marks of his career. He was the TE1 overall in fantasy, with only Brock Bowers and Trey McBride besting him in total yardage. Regardless of whether he gets a contract extension from the Niners (he likely will), Kittle will be a top-five fantasy TE in drafts this fall.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Eric Branch
San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch writes that the San Francisco 49ers and star tight end Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Eric Branch
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