George Kittle's Achilles injury fits 49ers season's troubling theme

Beyond his impact for the remainder of the playoffs, Kittle's injury means San Francisco will likely be without one of its best playmakers for the start of the 2026 season, if not the majority of it. Achilles injuries can take up to a year to heal depending on the severity. And if Kittle, 33, manages a return, chances are the Niners will be relying on a diminished player following the injury.

San Francisco has had a dizzying number of injuries this season, including quarterback Brock Purdy, offensive tackle Trent Williams, edge Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who missed all of the season after tearing his ACL in 2024.

The Niners weathered the storm to finish the regular season 12-5, even giving themselves a chance to clinch home field advantage through the playoffs had they defeated the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) in Week 18.

But Kittle's injury will be harder to overcome. He's integral to San Francisco's offensive scheme, with NFL Pro noting he ranked first among tight ends in receiving yards over expected (156) during the regular season despite missing six games with a strained hamstring.

"49ers quarterbacks have a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeting him on throws of 10+ air yards this season," NFL Pro insights added.

If any team is capable of staying alive without one of its most dynamic players, it's San Francisco. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has shown he's adept at making things work regardless of circumstance all year. Although at this point, he might be tired of it being necessary.