Kittle shares self-proclaimed status during 49ers vs. Packers game originally broadcast on NBC Sports Bay Area
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SANTA CLARA — Five days before game day, George Kittle announced he would be on the field Sunday when the 49ers take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The All-Pro tight end missed the Week 11 divisional loss to San Francisco and the Seattle Seahawks due to a hamstring injury, but he made it clear Wednesday that he can’t wait to get back on the field.
“I’m very excited because I’m going to be playing on Sunday,” Kittle said. “I’m definitely going to be there because I can’t afford to miss playing for the Packers. We get to practice today, so it’s going to be a lot of fun and exciting.”
Kittle said his current hamstring issue is completely different than the one that kept him off the field in Week 3 earlier this season. He added that while he hates missing games, he knows it would be better to sit out Sunday’s game against Seattle for his long-term availability.
“Ham is a big deal,” Kittle explained. “The last time I did Hammies was in my rookie season, they can be really picky and that’s one of them. You’re running random routes and all of a sudden you’re being pulled even more, and you’re running 4. It’s been ~6 weeks and I’m on season-ending IR.
“So, that’s something we wanted to be completely confident in, and I didn’t have full confidence in it. So, on the day of the game, it was a very easy decision for us.”
Kittle explained that although he had made progress in his recovery in the lead-up to Week 11, he also felt a slight setback the previous Saturday. That was enough to question his ability to be productive on the field.
“We definitely got better all week, but Saturday was a tough day,” Kittle said. “I thought I felt good on Friday, I felt bad on Saturday, and I just wasn’t good enough to run as hard as I could on Sunday. Either way, I don’t think I was my best self.”
Now, the tight end is looking forward and is happy to be back on the field for practice and eventually a game at historic Lambeau Field.
“I’m just grateful to be able to go out there and be with the players today,” Kittle said. “I hate missing all these practices and not being able to be in a group and spread positive vibes.”
The 49ers’ offense will need Kittle’s positive energy in addition to Green Bay’s blocking and receiving talent. They were clearly overlooked in Week 11.
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