49ers open window for Kittle, place McKivitz on COVID-19 list

Tight end George Kittle has been cleared to return to practice after being out since Nov. 1 with a fractured foot.

The 49ers on Wednesday opened the 21-day practice window for Kittle, who is not expected to be activated this week to be available for the team's Week 15 game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

The 49ers also announced rookie guard Colton McKivitz has been placed on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list. Players go on the list for either testing positive for COVID-19 or being forced to quarantine after having been in close contact with an infected person.

The 49ers on Sunday announced offensive line coach John Benton tested positive for COVID-19.

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The 49ers announced the signings of five players to their practice squad: defensive lineman Alex Barrett, cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, defensive lineman Daeshon Hall, and offensive linemen Aaron Neary and Isaiah Williams.

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The 49ers released tight end, Chase Harrell, from the practice squad.

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Kittle has appeared in just six games this season. He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns.

He fractured the cuboid bone in his foot in the 49ers' Week 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“All I ever really learned was that it’s the hardest bone in your foot to break, and you basically have to do it intentionally or in a car accident,” Kittle told NBC Sports Bay Area this month. “So I don’t know if that means I’m unlucky or if I need to slow down every once in a while.

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