The hits just keep on coming in the 49ers' nightmare season. The latest is to star tight end George Kittle.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that a MRI revealed Kittle fractured his foot Sunday in the 49ers' 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He will be out an extended period, and it could be a long time until the 49ers have Kittle back on the field.
ESPN's Adam Schefter added Kittle is expected to miss eight weeks, which could keep the tight end out for the rest of the season.
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SIGN UP HERE This comes after Schefter also reported quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be out indefinitely after aggravating his high ankle sprain Sunday.
Kittle is the 49ers' best player and perhaps their most important, even ahead of Garoppolo. He's not just the best tight end in the NFL, he's one of the best players in football as a true unicorn. There's no better combination of dominant blocker and unstoppable runner with the ball in his hands than Kittle right now.
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And that's exactly why the 49ers handed him a historic contract this past offseason. Kittle signed a five-year contract extension with the 49ers in August worth up to $75 million. The 27-year-old set the single-season receiving record for a tight end in 2018 and followed that up by being named First-Team All-Pro last season despite missing two games.
Kittle missed two games earlier this season with a sprained knee. He has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns this season in just six games. As the emotional heartbeat to the 49ers, this is yet another huge loss in an ugly season that nobody could have expected.