Turf aside, Kittle might be ready
49ers TE practices for a second straight day
Tight end George Kittle’s injured knee is feeling better every day, “so that’s awesome,” he said after a second straight day of 49ers practice.
That does not mean he is a lock to return from a one-game absence and play in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, nor does it sound like the MetLife Stadium turf will scare him if it’s his call to play or not.
“It’s a turf field. It is what it is. I’ve got to go play football,” Kittle said Thursday in a video call fromthe 49ers’ practice grounds in West Virginia. “I’m not concerned because I haven’t played on it yet, so we’ll see what happens.”
What he and the 49ers saw last Sunday was obviously concerning, at least at the start of the
31-13 rout of the New York Jets. Once defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas got carted off with first- quarter knee injuries, Kittle could not bear to watch more live action on his television back in the Bay Area.
“I watched the first quarter and I saw two injuries and I went outside and did my workout,” Kittle said. “I decided I was bad luck watching the game on TV.”
Several of Kittle’s teammates felt the bad luck was created by MetLife Stadium’s new synthetic turf, which has been cleared to host Sunday’s game after visits by the league, players’ union and independent inspectors, the NFL announced.
This time, whether he plays or not, Kittle will be with his team.
“Watching the Niners play on TV is not really fun when I should be on the fieldwith them,” Kittle said. “I’mlooking forward to the
next time I get the opportunity to play again, whenever that is. I can’t wait.”
He’s had towait because of a knee that got sprained and bruised by Arizona Cardinals’ safety Budda Baker just before halftime of the 49ers’ opening loss.
Kittle defended Baker’s hit, calling it “clean” and merely “awkward” once Kittle jumped high for a Jimmy Garoppolo incompletion.
“He’s thefirst personwho asked if I wasOK and apologized for the hit. It’s football.
I get hit all the time,” Kittle said. “That’swhat you sign up for when you play the game. Itwas a clean hit.
“If he tried to take it easy on me, I’d give him crap for that. I’mglad he didn’t. He plays at an All-Pro level every week. I mean, 15 tackles against us, that’s a pretty big deal as a starting safety.”
Kittle is a pretty big deal, too. He is a two-time AllPro, a two-time captain and an overall catalyst to a team that’s been hit hard by injuries, including to
Garoppolo, whose ankle sprain Sundaymay prompt the 49ers to start NickMullens for the first time since a 3-5 finish to 2018.
Kittle said he sees the “same old Nick” who is as locked in, confident and prepared as ever, with a “rocket for an arm. He’s slinging it.”
That suggests coach Kyle Shanahan won’t significantly alter his game plan whichever quarterback plays, in what’s been a runoriented scheme, anyhow. Garoppolo did not practice Thursday, nor did running backs Raheem Mostert (knee) and Tevin Coleman ( knee), defensive end Dee Ford ( back) or linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps).
“We’re definitely in good hands if Jimmy can’t go; I don’t know if he’s going to play or not,” Kittle said. “If Nick gets the green light, I know he’s going to rip it. I can’t wait to watch it.”
Whether he’ll watch it from the sideline or the field is a question that might not be answered until inactives are posted 90 minutes before kickoff Sunday.