49ers' George Kittle praises Sam Darnold amid Brock Purdy, Trey Lance speculation

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle sounds ready to catch passes thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold if Brock Purdy isn't cleared to play come September. 

"I’ve known him for a couple of years now, so getting the opportunity to play with him is really exciting," Kittle told Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post about Darnold, who joined the 49ers as a free agent earlier in the offseason. "He’s got a lot of talent and a great arm, but overall I’ve really noticed how he interacts with the other guys. He’s super positive towards everybody and has a relationship with people; he’s not shy and I think that’s what you need in a quarterback. I’m really happy to have him here." 

A significant topic hovering over the 49ers throughout the spring has involved an opinion that Darnold has the upper hand in a QB competition with 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance as Purdy recovers from surgery he had on March 10 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. San Francisco general manager John Lynch has made it known a healthy Purdy will eventually reclaim the QB1 gig, and that reality continues to spark speculation that Lynch could shop Lance assuming a different club would trade anything of note for the 23-year-old.

Individuals within the 49ers sound optimistic Purdy will start the regular-season opener at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10. Kittle indicated a San Francisco team that qualified for the NFC Championship Game this past January after it lost two quarterbacks to injuries even before Purdy's setback can return to the conference title contest as long as it avoids similar issues during the upcoming campaign. 

"Our goal is to win the Super Bowl and we’re doing everything we can to work towards that," Kittle told Hendricks. "We’re practicing well, practicing smart, keeping guys healthy, and just trying to keep our talented team on the field. Because we feel like if we’re healthy, and if we’re rolling, then we have a chance to win every single game." 

For now, Kittle and company will spend the summer break playing the waiting game regarding Purdy's ongoing recovery.