TE KITTLE EXCITED FOR SUNDAY NIGHT
Mullens to start again at quarterback in place of Garoppolo; Samuel will play
SANTA MLARA >> Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw made a telling response when asked how excited he was for his 49ers prime-time debut Sunday night.
“That’s the thing. I’m not excited when I play. I’m very angry when I play,” Kinlaw said. “It’s not excitement for me.”
Tight end George Kittle had a different response Thursday, and for good reason.
Kittle declared himself, and specifically his left knee, ready to return from a two-game absence when the 49ers (2-1) host the Philadelphia Eagles (0-2-1) on “Sunday Night Football.”
“I just get excited at the opportunity. I mean, 5:25 on a Sunday night in Levi’s is pretty exciting. I know our fans won’t be there, but we’re going to feel them.
“It’s just going to be really exciting to get out there and play again. I’ve been missing it.”
Quarterback Jimmy Garop
polo will miss his second straight game, unable to practice since spraining his right ankle in a Sept. 20 win over the New York Jets. That means Nick Mullens will start a second straight game.
“I love watching Nick play. We have a connection,” said Kittle, who, along with wide receiver Deebo Samuel, will suit up on Sunday. “I mean, I love all three of our quarterbacks. I think they’re all great QBs.
“Getting a chance to play with Nick again, I’m excited about it. He’s a great QB.”
Kittle’s greatness historically shines under the prime-time lights, and he said he’s recovered enough so he can “let it loose” on Sunday night.
Four of his five touchdown catches last season came in prime time. He had at least five catches and 70 yards in each of the five prime-time games he played last season. The only prime-time game he missed coincided with the 49ers’ first loss, against Seattle in overtime.
Kittle’s been a full participant in practice this week. His knee sprain kept him limited last week in practice. This being Kittle, he said he wouldn’t have missed either win in New York had they been played later in the season with greater stakes, but he sided with coach Kyle Shanahan’s precautionary measure.
Kittle played throughout the season opener despite getting hurt just before halftime.
Joining Kittle in a Sunday night return is Samuel, whose surgically repaired left foot has responded well to his first practices this week since the 49ers’ Super Bowl preparations eight months ago. Shanahan will limit Samuel’s debut, however, citing the NFL’s widespread array of injuries tracing back to limited offseason workouts.
“We’ve got to be smart with him. I know he’ll be out there but it won’t be his normal role, that’s for sure,” Shanahan said.
Samuel still must be activated off injured reserve by Saturday at 1 p.m. to face the Eagles, and Shanahan said a corresponding roster move will either be the IR designations for defensive end Dee Ford and tight end Jordan Reed.
“I love Deebo, the way he plays. We play very similar when we get the ball in our hands,” Kittle said. “It’s just fun to be on the field with someone like that. And it will elevate the play of our wide receiver room, and they’re playing at a high level already.”
So is Mullens, who threw for 343 yards and a touchdown in a punt-free, turnover-free effort for his first victorious start since 2018.
“You guys know I love Nick. He’s the same every day,” Kittle said. “Even when he’s at practice, it feels like a game with him. He’s always locked in.”
Kittle produced 108 yards in Mullens’ starting debut two years ago in a 34- 3, Thursday night rout of the Raiders.
“He is a leader out there. He leads in a different way,” Kittle added. “He just leads with his play, which is what I respect. He never messes up. He’s just there, consistent and works hard. That’s what our team responds well to, guys who go out and do their job and do it at a high level.”
Last Sunday, Kittle coddled up next to Garoppolo and specifically the quarterback’s earpiece to eavesdrop on the 49ers’ play calls.
“Jimmy got an earpiece so could hear all plays,” Kittle said. “I didn’t get one because I’m not a quarterback. I don’t know who I’ve got to talk to about that. I was watching with him and we went down and scored. The next series wasn’t very good, because I wasn’t standing next to him. I’m a superstitious guy so I watched the rest of the game next to Jimmy, making sure I was on his left side.”