Christian McCaffrey shares George Kittle promise after 49ers' playoff win over Eagles

While the San Francisco 49ers advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs via their 23-19 win at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, that victory was made bittersweet for the 49ers because tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the contest. 

Following the win, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey spoke about how the club will respond to this latest setback.

49ers will "play for" George Kittle for remainder of playoff run

"This team has carried the character of George Kittle throughout the entire year, and since I got traded here, he's the heart and soul of this team," McCaffrey explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. "And so, it's a tough loss. When he's not playing, it means a lot. But he's somebody that, even going through something that he had to go through, and us finding a way to finish, he's the first guy in the locker room smiling, bumping music, happy for his teammates. And when you lose a leader like that, you never really lose them because his presence is still in this locker room, his energy is still here, and he's a leader, and the heart and soul of this team. And so, we're praying for him, love him, and we're going to play for him the rest of the way."

Of course, this 49ers team is no stranger to adversity. Pass-rusher Nick Bosa suffered a season-ending ACL tear in September, and "the heart and soul of" the San Francisco defense was sidelined when linebacker Fred Warner went down with a dislocated and broken ankle in Week 6. Warner is not expected to be available for the 49ers' upcoming matchup at the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) this coming Saturday. 

Additionally, 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones went 5-3 across eight starts for games that QB1 Brock Purdy missed due to the toe injury he suffered in Week 1 and then aggravated in Week 4. For a piece published on Monday, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk spoke with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated about how he and others in the locker room managed to weather storms from Week 1 up through January.

49ers have embraced a next-man-up mentality

"I’m just an eternal optimist," Juszczyk said. "I always believe there’s a way. It’s unfortunate, but in this league, most everyone, unless you’re a first-round pick, got their opportunity because somebody got hurt. That’s just the reality of it. And guys have gotten their opportunities."  

As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Niners as 7.5-point underdogs against the Seahawks. Expect 49ers players to use such lines as bulletin-board material as they prepare for a rematch of the Week 18 showdown that Seattle won at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium.