Do 49ers have better Plan B behind George Kittle?

SANTA CLARA >> Charlie Woerner showed up shirtless for his first NFL press conference, leading witnesses to obviously ask about his physique.

“I’d say going from college to now, I’ve matured, my body’s grown and I’ve eaten better,” Warner said Thursday.l “I lost weight, leaned down, lost a couple of percent body fat.”

OK, OK, so we all can’t be overachievers amid a pandemic like the 49ers’ secondyear tight end.

Kudos to Warner for feeling better about himself. Same goes for Ross Dwelley, who worked on his strength this offseason to “take on those big Dends in the trenches.”

Warner and Dwelley were the 49ers’ reserve tight ends last season, when George Kittle missed 8 of 16 games because of injuries.

Warner and Dwelley are the reserve tight ends, again.

Should that be a concern, that the 49ers didn’t draft any challenger, or that the only other available is Jordan Matthews, who’s learning on the practice squad as he converts from wide receiver?

Kittle is irreplaceable as an offensive catalyst and team leader. He raves about his tight end corps. and of course he champions them. He’s mentored them for bigger roles, all while he reports for Year 5 in tip-top shape for the physical contact he craves.

Football is a haphazard endeavor, so the 49ers better have reserves in the tank behind Kittle. The same ones as last year made noticeable efforts (see: Warner’s bare torso) to step their game up a notch for what promises to be a playoff run.

“It’s the same every offseason, trying to get bigger, faster, stronger,” Dwelley said. “Trying to get in and out of my brakes better. And be stronger so you can take on those big Dends in the trenches.”

Dwelley’s forte is his pass

catching ability, but blocking is a job requirement, too. Still, his hands may have been the most reliable of any receiver in training camp. His versatility, techniques, work ethic and smarts make him “very invaluable,” tight ends coach Jon Embree said.

Dwelley had one touchdown among 19 catches (245 yards) last season; Woerner had three receptions (36 yards).

Woerner’s signature trait?

“Mainly what I did at the University of Georgie was block,” said Woerner, a sixth-round pick last year. “But coming into the NFL, and watching one of the best route runners in the game day in and day out in George, I’m trying to pick up little pieces from him, and watch what receivers do.”

Woerner trained this offseason at Kittle’s Nashville barn and at Tight End University, which Kittle hosted with Travis Kelce and Greg Olsen for 49 tight ends in June.

“I’m excited for Charlie. He’s going to be a good player for us,” Embree said. “In about a year or so, Charlie is going to be a force in this league, running and blocking.

“He can run and catch the ball better than people think or know. Get some technique things cleaned up with him and a few other things, he can be a dominant, in-line blocking tight end.”

Veteran MyCole Pruitt was brought in this offseason to compete — and guaranteed $637,500 — but a calf strain early in camp kept him from replacing the incumbent reserves. Pruitt has since returned to the Tennessee Titans, on their practice squad.

General manager John Lynch said the 49ers opted to go with only three tight ends on their initial 53man roster because other positions needed more depth, such as defensive line, which kept 11 players before putting Mo Hurst on injured reserve this week.

“While we have kept four tight ends before we just felt it was in our best interest to keep three on our roster,” Lynch said this week. “MyCole had some opportunities elsewhere, as we thought he might. And sometimes that happens and we’re pulling for him to have a quality year wherever he ends up.”