San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has missed almost all of the 2025 season. He hurt his hamstring in the first game of the year.
Kittle only played two drives before getting hurt, but he was productive in limited time. The 49ers tight end finished with 25 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. In his absence, Jake Tonges has been elevated to being the starter. Tonges' impact was felt immediately as he also hauled in a touchdown in the first game of the season. Overall for the year, the backup tight end has 224 yards and three touchdowns on 25 receptions.
Kittle has been sidelined for five full games due to a hamstring injury, but he is nearing a return.
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Here is more on when the 49ers expect to get Kittle back in the lineup.
When will George Kittle return?
Kittle is on track to return in Week 7. The 49ers will host the Atlanta Falcons for the week's "Sunday Night Football" matchup.
If he needs one more week to heal fully, Kittle would look to return in Week 8 on the road against the Houston Texans.
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George Kittle injury
Kittle initially suffered a hamstring strain in Week 1 of the NFL season. The 49ers tight end was added to injured reserve, which meant he was forced to miss at least four games. Kittle has missed five games in a row, but is nearing a return. San Francisco opened its 21-day practice window, putting the veteran tight end on track to play in Week 7.
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Upcoming 49ers schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 7 | vs. Falcons (SNF) |
| 8 | at Texans |
| 9 | at Giants |
| 10 | vs. Rams |
| 11 | at Cardinals |
| 12 | vs. Panthers (MNF) |
| 13 | at Browns |
| 14 | BYE |
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49ers TE depth chart
| Position | Player Name |
| 1 | George Kittle - IR |
| 2 | Jake Tonges |
| 3 | Luke Farrell |
| 4 | Brayden Willis |
With how well he has played, Tonges likely will be used more in the offense, even when Kittle returns. The starting tight end coming back does spell a move further back down the depth chart for both Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis.