San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle did not practice on Thursday and was added to the team’s injury report due to tightness in his hamstring. His status for Week 3’s matchup with the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday is in question, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Additionally, cornerback Charvarius Ward didn’t practice due to hamstring and knee issues and was listed on San Francisco‘s injury report. Safety Talanoa Hufanga is expected to make his season debut, returning from a torn ACL, which would help if Ward doesn’t play.
Kittle and Ward join receiver Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey among injured 49ers players. Samuel is out with a calf strain and is expected to miss “a couple of weeks,” according to coach Kyle Shanahan. McCaffrey is on injured reserve and thus out for at least two more games with Achilles tendinitis and calf tightness.
In Week 2’s 23–17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Kittle had seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. In two games this season, he has 11 receptions (on 13 targets) for 116 yards, second in both categories among 49ers pass-catchers.
If Kittle can’t play, it would be the sixth consecutive season in which he’s missed at least one game. The All-Pro tight end last played a full season in 2018, when the regular season schedule was stil 16 games.
Eric Saubert would get the start in place of Kittle. The eight-year veteran is in his first season with the 49ers and has two receptions for 26 yards so far. He’s previously played for the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.