George Kittle had a little fun with the Atlanta Falcons on the sideline, and the whole scene fit the tight end’s personality perfectly.
During the NFL’s mic’d-up look at the game, Kittle walked over to Brandon Dorlus and asked if he had seen Project Hail Mary, bringing up Rocky and the way he doesn’t know how to give a thumbs up. Later, when he spotted fans in alien costumes in the stands, one of the 49ers coaches leaned in with, “There's a thing here they call A-T-L-iens.” Kittle’s response came quick: “We learn something new every day.”
The sci-fi jokes came during a rough afternoon for San Francisco. The 49ers entered the matchup undefeated, but Atlanta handed them their first loss of the season. The Falcons moved to 3-4 with the win.
Kittle still turned in a strong individual effort. He led the 49ers with eight catches for 88 yards, though he also coughed up a costly fumble. Christian McCaffrey followed with six receptions for 61 yards.
Brock Purdy had his toughest outing of the year, finishing with 288 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He came into the game in the MVP conversation, but that stock took a hit after this performance.
For Kittle, the production keeps looking solid after a difficult comeback. He is returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in a 49ers playoff game earlier this year, and through seven games he has 34 catches for 425 yards and five touchdowns.
His resume already speaks loudly anyway: seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro selections, including two First-team nods and three Second-team nods. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Iowa, Kittle has long since become one of the defining players of this 49ers era.
San Francisco no longer has the unbeaten record, but the season is still very much alive. The 49ers will try to bounce back in Week 10 when they host the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Other News...
49ers Keep Getting Linked To Another Massive Roster Swing
The 49ers are still sorting out what their defensive line rotation will look like after adding DeForest Buckner, and the early read is that the group will be managed with a clear eye toward keeping the most impactful bodies active on game day. The discussion around who fits into that mix has naturally spilled into the broader roster picture, because San Francisco has a long history of exploring bold moves when it believes a premium talent can change the shape of the offense.
That is why the Garrett Wilson chatter has started to linger around the 49ers again, even if it remains speculative and far from a confirmed path. Any deal for the Jets receiver would come with real cap and roster consequences for New York, which is part of what makes the idea so complicated, but San Franciscos willingness to be linked to another major swing says plenty about how aggressively it continues to evaluate ways to raise the ceiling of the team. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Got A More Concerning Mike Evans Injury Outlook
Mike Evans leg injury remains a topic of concern as the 49ers work through another stretch of uncertainty at wide receiver. General manager John Lynch said Evans is on a treatment plan designed to ease the tendinitis and help him get back to a point where he can play, and he pointed to Christian McCaffreys previous injury management as a reminder that these issues sometimes require patience more than urgency.
For a San Francisco team still hanging around the NFC West race, the timing matters. The 49ers have been trying to navigate the wideout situation without letting it derail the bigger picture, and Lynchs comments made clear the organization is focused on handling the injury carefully rather than forcing a quick return. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Test Their Patience
The 49ers already made one notable move by bringing in DeForest Buckner, but with two weeks left before the trade deadline, the front office still has time to decide whether to keep shopping or stand pat. San Francisco has been linked to help along the defensive front, and the conversation around the roster has centered on whether the team should chase another addition or trust the group it has built while waiting for key contributors to come back.
What makes the decision tricky is the balance between urgency and patience. The 49ers want to stay competitive now, but there is also a real concern about making a move that changes the developmental path for younger players or creates a ripple effect elsewhere on the roster. For a team with playoff expectations, the deadline is less about making noise and more about deciding how much it is willing to disrupt for a short-term upgrade. [Read more 🡒]