The San Francisco 49ers rolled to their fifth straight win on Monday night, putting up a commanding 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. But while the offense was firing on all cylinders, the win came with a potential price: star tight end George Kittle exited the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury.
Before the injury, Kittle was doing what he does best-dominating. He hauled in seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, once again showing why he’s one of the most complete tight ends in football.
His route running was crisp, his yards after catch were vintage Kittle, and his energy was infectious. Simply put, he looked like a man on a mission.
After the game, Kittle addressed reporters with his usual upbeat demeanor, downplaying the severity of the injury.
“(I'm) pretty excited we won ‘Monday Night Football’ on the road. It is after 12 already.
I can't wait to go on the plane and go home,” Kittle said. “My concern level?
"George, how are you doing?"
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 23, 2025
George Kittle:
"Pretty excited we won MNF on the road."
Says he doesn't think he has a high ankle sprain. #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/MrmzLY84IV
I don't think it’s a high ankle sprain, so we’ll take it one day at a time, and we’ll go from there.”
That’s a reassuring message for the 49ers, who are still in the thick of the race for the NFC West crown, trailing the Seattle Seahawks. With playoff seeding on the line and a short week ahead before facing the Chicago Bears at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday, the hope is that Kittle’s injury won’t keep him sidelined for long.
The timing of the injury is especially tricky. While San Francisco has already clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, losing Kittle-both as a pass-catcher and a tone-setter in the run game-would be a major blow. His ability to block like a tackle and catch like a wideout makes him a rare asset, and his presence on the field elevates the entire offense.
There’s no sugarcoating it: the 49ers need Kittle healthy if they want to make a serious Super Bowl run. Even in a loaded roster featuring weapons across the board, Kittle remains a key piece of the puzzle-both schematically and emotionally.
And if history’s any indication, Kittle isn’t one to sit out unless he absolutely has to. He’s already battled through a torn hamstring suffered in Week 1, and this season he’s been a model of resilience.
That toughness was one of the reasons the 49ers locked him up with a four-year, $76.4 million extension this past offseason. They know what he brings-not just the stats, but the edge, the energy, the leadership.
So while the 49ers will monitor his ankle closely over the coming days, don’t be surprised if No. 85 is back out there sooner than later. Because when the games matter most, George Kittle usually finds a way to suit up.