The San Francisco 49ers were able to upset the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, 23-19, but they’ll have to continue their playoff run without one of their top playmakers.
Tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in their wild-card round win, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game.
Kittle was carted off late in the first half of Sunday’s game. He appeared to have suffered an injury to his lower right leg after making a catch in the flats and was carted off shortly after. The reception was Kittle’s first and only grab of the day, picking up six yards on the play.
Soon after Kittle left the game, he was ruled out with an Achilles injury.
The 49ers trailed the Eagles, 13-7, at the time of Kittle’s injury. However, the 49ers were able to kick a field goal later in the drive to cut the lead to 13-10. San Francisco rallied in the second half behind some big plays, with wide receiver Jauan Jennings throwing a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and Christian McCaffrey catching a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Tight end Jake Tonges had one reception for 14 yards in Kittle’s absence.
Kittle, 32, has remained one of the league’s top tight ends despite battling multiple injuries in recent years. He had 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season, but played just 11 games due to a hamstring tear.
Kittle just completed his ninth season in the NFL and has 595 receptions and 8,008 yards in 124 regular-season games.
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