San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle’s wild card game against the Philadelphia Eagles ended in the second quarter after he went down near the sideline on a short catch and immediately grabbed at his lower leg.
He stayed down, was eventually carted off, and the 49ers ruled him out with an Achilles injury, a brutal turn for an offense that leans on him as both a safety blanket and tone setter.
What George Kittle’s Injury Means for the 49ers Offense
Kittle leaving changes the shape of everything Kyle Shanahan wants to do, especially in the middle of the field and in protection.
The 49ers now have to piece together tight end snaps with Luke Farrell and adjust their route tree without their most complete two way weapon, which puts even more pressure on Christian McCaffrey and the wideouts to create chunk plays.
George Kittle
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) January 11, 2026
Torn right Achilles tendon.
Awful injury.
Absolutely devastating for the 32 year old.
He would join the list of players below. pic.twitter.com/2eJgAmVnsv
What the Eagles Can Exploit After Kittle Is Ruled Out
For the Eagles defense, the path is pretty clear once Kittle is off the field. They can tighten up in the short areas, bring more heat without worrying as much about Kittle beating man coverage, and force the 49ers to win outside the numbers.
In a playoff game where possessions are precious, losing Kittle’s blocking and after catch impact can tilt the math fast.
Prayers up for George Kittle 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BaRVd2sWwp
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 11, 2026
It's a devastating blow for the 49ers and Kittle.
Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
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