The San Francisco 49ers’ season opener against the Los Angeles Rams turned into an early test of depth, and tight end Jake Tonges became the latest piece to go down.
Tonges exited Thursday night’s game with an apparent leg injury after needing help getting off the field and spending time in the medical tent. He had not been targeted before leaving. By halftime, he was officially ruled out, and the team is now waiting on more information to determine how serious the injury is.
The loss stings because Tonges had entered the season as a key part of the tight end group behind George Kittle. San Francisco brought Kittle back Thursday after he missed the end of last season with an Achilles injury, but the team had also spent the offseason building Tonges into a trusted option no matter who was available. In March, Tonges signed a two-year, $8 million contract after breaking through as a dependable contributor in 2025.
Last season, he finished with 34 receptions for 293 yards and five touchdowns, giving Brock Purdy another target in the passing game when Kittle was sidelined. Tonges had also already dealt with a plantar fascia injury from the 49ers’ playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January, so this latest setback comes after another long recovery for the 27-year-old.
His absence only sharpens the pressure on Kittle and the rest of San Francisco’s tight end depth. With Tonges potentially out for any stretch of time, the 49ers suddenly have a lot less experience behind their All-Pro starter.
The injury to Tonges came on the heels of another blow to the roster. Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling had already been ruled out with an ankle injury after being helped off the field earlier in the second quarter. Stribling had been handling a meaningful role before leaving, and Demarcus Robinson stepped into the receiving mix and immediately made it count with a 39-yard touchdown catch that put San Francisco ahead.
For now, the 49ers are left to wait and see whether Tonges’ injury is a short-term problem or one that lingers beyond Week 1.
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