One of the biggest games during Week 17 features the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Chicago Bears, as both teams are alive to secure the NFC's No. 1 seed.
However, the 49ers are not fully healthy for the game, with tight end George Kittle expected to miss the contest. Kittle's absence comes at a tough time not only for the 49ers, but also for fantasy football players who were relying on Kittle to win their championship.
In Kittle's place, San Francisco will have to turn to a more inexperienced and lesser-known option who could produce a legendary fantasy performance. Here's what you need to know about Kittle's backup.
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Who is George's Kittle backup TE?
Since George Kittle can't play against the Bears, San Francisco will turn to Kittle's backup for the pivotal matchup. The 49ers will have two active tight ends on Sunday night, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell, but Tonges enters the game as the more likely receiving option.
On the season, Tonges has 233 receiving yards, while Farrell has just 85. All but two of Tonges' receiving yards came between Weeks 1 and 7, when Kittle dealt with an injury and missed some time.
What happened to George Kittle?
Kittle sprained his ankle last Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts, an injury that kept him out of practice for the week. Although the 49ers are still playing to win the NFC West, San Francisco has already clinched a playoff spot, so the team doesn't see value in pushing Kittle to play.
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Who is Jake Tonges?
Jake Tonges is a four-year tight end who has largely been Kittle's backup in 2025. The 26-year-old entered the 2025 season without a catch, but this season he's found a role in the high-powered 49ers offense.
Tonges has been in the 49ers organization since the middle of the 2023 NFL season, so he has been able to learn under Kittle over the last few years.
Jake Tonges had never caught a pass in the NFL before today.
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
He has three today. Including this one 🙌 pic.twitter.com/g1xMS2UXub
Jake Tonges college
Tonges played college football at Cal, redshirting as a freshman in 2017 then playing four seasons for the Golden Bears from 2018 to 2021. In 41 college games, Tonges produced 47 catches for 620 receiving yards and four touchdowns, with his best year coming in his 2021 redshirt senior season.
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Jake Tonges draft
In 2022, Tonges went undrafted but signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in April. He remained with Chicago for the season but was released during training camp in 2023.
Jake Tonges stats
Tonges has been in the league since 2022, but he didn't record a catch until this year. Previously, Tonges played four games with the Bears in 2022 and 16 for the 49ers last year while receiving just one target.
Here's how Tonges has performed for the 49ers so far this season.
- Games: 15
- Receptions: 27
- Receiving yards: 233
- Yards per reception: 4
- Touchdowns: 4