The San Francisco 49ers will be without one of their top offensive playmakers for the next several weeks. Tight end George Kittle was placed on Injured Reserve this week after suffering a right hamstring injury in the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He will miss upcoming matchups against the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams.
In Kittle's absence, the 49ers will turn to Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges at tight end, along with versatile fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who's gotten some work with the tight ends although primarily working with the running backs group. Practice squad tight end Brayden Willis is also a candidate for a gameday elevation if additional depth is needed.
The team is also keeping a close eye on quarterback Brock Purdy, who has missed time in practice this week while managing a toe and shoulder issue. President of football operations and general manager John Lynch shared an update earlier this week, noting Purdy is "doing well" and working aggressively through his rehab.
"Brock's doing well, coming back from it," Lynch said during an appearance on KNBR. "We'll just treat it as such. He's doing a nice job, doing everything he can to get back out there as soon as possible. That's where we're at."
With Purdy ruled out for Week 2, Mac Jones will step in under center. Head coach Kyle Shanahan highlighted his toughness, ability to play fast, and experience making the right reads. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak also praised how quickly Jones has adapted to the team's offense and his strong showing throughout camp. Both expressed confidence in his readiness with his number being called.
Below is the complete Week 2 Game Status Report from Friday:
- QB Brock Purdy (toe/left shoulder) - OUT
- WR Jauan Jennings (shoulder) - Questionable
- T Trent Williams (knee) - Questionable
The 49ers will continue to monitor players listed on the report through the weekend. Final decisions on gameday availability will be announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff in New Orleans.
