49ers Players Raise Questions About Substation Near Facility Amid Injury Concerns
There’s been a growing conversation in Santa Clara, and it’s not just about the 49ers’ postseason run or free agency buzz. Some players are starting to wonder if an electrical substation near the team’s training facility could be playing a role-however small-in the rash of injuries that’s hit the roster this season.
Tight end George Kittle, one of the team’s veteran leaders and someone who’s battled through his fair share of physical setbacks, voiced what many in the locker room have been thinking: if there’s even a slight chance that something in the environment is contributing to injuries, players want to know about it.
Kittle referenced fullback Kyle Juszczyk’s perspective, which frames the issue in the mindset of a pro athlete constantly chasing marginal gains. “As a professional athlete, you’re always trying to get one percent better,” Kittle said.
“Is this ice tub helping? Is this red-light therapy making a difference?
Because if you stack enough of those little things, it can make you three percent better than the next guy.”
That’s the edge players are always looking for. But if something-even something as seemingly innocuous as electromagnetic exposure-is working against that edge, even by a fraction of a percent, it’s worth investigating.
“If something’s affecting [us] negatively 0.25 percent, you’d want to know about it,” Kittle explained. “Like whether it’s this type of cleat is hurting me, this type of shoulder pads is increasing my risk to get hurt-you’d probably change that.”
The players aren’t demanding answers, but they are asking questions. Kittle was clear: they’re not pointing fingers, just hoping for clarity.
“All we’re saying is, as players, we would just like to look into it to make sure it’s not something. That’s what I would just appreciate.”
But there’s a visual that’s stuck with Kittle since his rookie season-and it’s hard to ignore once you’ve seen it. He recalled a line of trees that once stood between the substation and the practice field.
The strange part? They never had leaves.
Year-round, they were bare. Dead.
“My rookie season, there used to be trees in between the electrical substation and our practice facility,” Kittle said. “And above the fence, all the trees had no leaves on them, year-round.
All dead. There’s a couple bunches of leaves every once in a while, and it was like that.”
It wasn’t something people noticed-until someone pointed it out. Kittle didn’t mention it to head coach Kyle Shanahan until 2021, even though it had been bothering him for years.
“That one messed me up,” he admitted. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, there are no leaves on these trees.
Why?’”
This season, the NFL came in and cut those trees down. They’re gone now.
And unless you were around back then, you wouldn’t even know they were there. “So it’s only us vets that know that that was the truth,” Kittle said.
The implication isn’t that the substation is causing injuries-but in a league where every detail is scrutinized for competitive advantage or health optimization, it’s not surprising that players are asking questions. The 49ers have dealt with a long list of injuries in recent years, and when you’re constantly fighting to stay on the field, nothing is off the table.
Rams Not an Obvious Fit in Maxx Crosby Trade Talk
If the Raiders were ever to entertain trade offers for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby-a move that would send shockwaves across the league-the Rams might not be the most logical landing spot.
While L.A. is always aggressive when it comes to acquiring talent, the timing might not be quite right. Outside linebacker Byron Young is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and Jared Verse, a recent draft addition, will also be extension-eligible next year. That kind of roster construction makes it tricky to justify a big swing for another high-profile pass rusher, especially one who would command a massive contract.
Seahawks Lock In Key Salaries Ahead of Offseason
Seattle made several financial commitments official this week, with multiple player salaries becoming fully guaranteed on February 12th. These moves don’t just reflect cap management-they also give a clearer picture of who’s firmly in the team’s plans moving forward.
Quarterback Sam Darnold had $2.5 million of his salary locked in, along with a significant $15 million roster bonus. That’s a clear sign the Seahawks are committed to Darnold heading into 2026, likely as a bridge starter or high-end backup depending on how the offseason shakes out.
On the offensive line, right tackle Abe Lucas saw $6.16 million of his salary become guaranteed. Lucas has been a solid presence when healthy, and this move reinforces Seattle’s belief in his long-term potential.
Veteran punter Michael Dickson had $2.7 million guaranteed, a nod to his consistency and the value of field position in the Seahawks’ style of play.
At wide receiver, Cooper Kupp saw $9 million of his $12.99 million base salary become guaranteed. Kupp remains a key piece of the offense and a trusted target, and this guarantee ensures he’ll be part of the plan despite some recent injury setbacks.
Edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, now in Seattle, had $5 million of his $8.15 million salary locked in. That’s a veteran presence the Seahawks clearly value, especially as they continue to retool their defense.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed also had $2 million of his contract become fully guaranteed, rounding out a series of moves that solidify Seattle’s core heading into what promises to be an important offseason.
With these guarantees in place, Seattle is signaling stability-and perhaps setting the stage for a few bigger swings in free agency or the draft.