Dwelley could remain key piece even after Kittle’s return

As star tight end George Kittle nears his return from left knee and ankle injuries – he said after Sunday’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals he badly wanted to play – the 49ers have reasons for optimism surrounding Kittle’s understudy and the quick development that may produce another viable weapon on offense when Kittle returns to the lineup.

Second-year pro Ross Dwelley scored the first two touchdowns of his career Sunday, helping San Francisco escape a 16-0 first-half deficit after the offense appeared dead in the water with Kittle watching from a luxury suite. The 49ers won 3626, thanks to a go-ahead touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to running back Jeff Wilson Jr. with 37 seconds left.

No, Dwelley hasn’t been a statistical dynamo with his 14 catches for 66 yards this season. But he made a few of the most important receptions in key divisional wins over Arizona, like the game-sealing, third-down conversion on Halloween and his scores Sunday.

“Ross has been one of the better football players on our team this year,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday, “and (he) doesn’t get a lot of accolades because he’s not going to sit there and get a bunch of explosive plays. But he’s as good of a football player as we’ve got going right now.

“We always mess with him. He’s got the best fouryards per catch average in the NFL right now,” Shanahan joked. “That’s why we went to him on third-andthree (on the final drive). That was right at his spot.”

Dwelley, who played at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, has a chance to remain an asset in Shanahan’s offense even when Kittle comes back, which could be Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Shanahan, after all, uses more heavypersonnel packages than any other offensive coordinator in the NFL.

“Coach Shanahan’s going to do his thing,” Dwelley said. “He’s going to put us in good situations to make plays. So I just trust him, whatever he think he is best.”