George Kittle injury update: 49ers reveal expected return date for star tight end

Mike Moraitis

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George Kittle injury update: 49ers reveal expected return date for star tight end image

We now have a potential return date for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

Kittle has been on injured reserve since he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1. The veteran tight end has now missed the minimum four games after the Niners' Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

However, Kittle will not be ready to return when first eligible, the team announced on Friday afternoon.

George Kittle injury update

Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that Kittle is expected back in Week 7, The Athletic's Vic Tafur reported.

Shanahan called Kittle returning in Week 6 a "long shot."

"49ers HC Kyle Shanahan told reports that TE George Kittle, who has been on IR due to a hamstring injury, is more likely to return in Week 7 vs. Atlanta than next week in Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay. A return for next Sunday is considered a 'long shot,'" Schefter reported.

While unfortunate, this was always a possibility.

After he was initially placed on injured reserve, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Kittle was likely to miss anywhere from three to five weeks.

Shanahan had initially said a "few weeks" for Kittle, but obviously it was longer than that.

The Niners managed to survive without Kittle, quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receivers Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk in Week 5, which is nothing short of miraculous.

That result will provide a massive boost to the confidence of the 49ers and things only figure to get better once the injury-riddled Niners start getting their best players back.

Jennings and Pearsall have a good shot to suit up in Week 6, but it looks like neither Purdy nor Kittle will be back next Sunday. As for Aiyuk, his status is completely up in the air moving forward, although he is expected back at some point this season.

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Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL for the Sporting News. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY and FanSided. He hates writing in the third person.