San Francisco 49ers Announce Devastating Injury Update On Superstar TE George Kittle

January 11, 2026, 9:23pm EST 1K+ • By Darrelle Lincoln

The 49ers cannot catch break with injuries.

George Kittle and the 49ers simply cannot catch a break with injuries this year. The 2025 season has been filled with them. It continued on Sunday night.

Kittle was carted off the field during the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers’ NFC wild-card playoff game. He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. The injury occurred after Kittle caught a six-yard pass. Cameras showed Kittle not putting any weight on his right leg.

He clapped as he was being carted off the field, perhaps in an effort to motivate his teammates. The Eagles had a 13-10 lead at the time of Kittle’s injury. San Francisco went on to win, 23-19, over the defending Super Bowl champions.

San Francisco will now face its division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, next weekend in the NFC divisional round.

Following the game, an update was given on George Kittle. After the contest, it was confirmed that he had torn his right Achilles tendon after a catch, per ESPN.

An Achilles tear can sometimes take up to a year to recover from. That means Kittle wouldn’t be back until the playoffs next year.

The 49ers Must Figure It Out Without George Kittle

George Kittle (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Will the 49ers have enough to get past Seattle without George Kittle? The San Francisco 49ers tight end suffered one of the most feared injuries in football during Sunday’s NFC Wild Card victory.

Medical experts are confirming a lengthy recovery timeline following his Achilles rupture. He will not be available for the remainder of the postseason. That is a sobering realization, especially knowing you have to face the Seahawks next week.

George Kittle’s injury adds to a growing list of devastating setbacks for the 49ers in a season already defined by health issues. For now, they can’t contemplate it too much. The Seahawks will not feel sorry for them.