“Very fast, very mature,” Kittle said during his press conference. “What is he 25? I like old rookies because they’re ready to play. You don’t have to go through the immaturity part.”

Black was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the last draft, with the 90th overall pick. While many expected them to go for a young talent in the backfield, Kyle Shanahan and his staff surprised everyone with this decision.

“We had him as the second-rated back on the board,” the head coach said on the Rich Eisen Show on April 30. “That’s just our evaluation of him. Right or wrong, that was our evaluation of him.”

The intriguing San Francisco backfield

The San Francisco 49ers boast an incredibly deep and versatile backfield engineered to perfectly fit Kyle Shanahan‘s dynamic zone-running scheme. At the forefront is the elite Christian McCaffrey, whose dual-threat capability remains the absolute engine of the ground game.

Behind him, the explosive Jordan James slots in as the primary backup, followed closely by rookie Kaelon Black, who adds a physical, downhill running style to the rotation. Further down the depth chart, the athletic Isaac Guerendo provides exceptional raw speed and upside, while veterans like Patrick Taylor Jr. solidify the unit with reliable depth and special teams value.

49ers aim to avoid injuries ahead of next season

Following an injury-plagued 2025 season that heavily disrupted their offensive rhythm, the San Francisco 49ers are actively adjusting their strategy to keep their core stars healthy. Last year, structural stability took a major hit as quarterback Brock Purdy missed several starts due to injury, while elite tight end George Kittle suffered a devastating Achilles tear during postseason.

Furthermore, because of the surrounding injuries and roster instability, head coach Kyle Shanahan was forced to overwork Christian McCaffrey, leading to a grueling 413-touch workload that lowered his overall efficiency.

To prevent another wave of soft-tissue issues and long-term fatigue, the front office has heavily prioritized depth—particularly by restocking the backfield and adding reliable pass-catching options—aiming to strictly manage player snap counts and prevent their franchise cornerstones from taking unnecessary punishment before the playoffs.

So far, what Kittle has seen from Evans is impressive. During a recent press conference, the tight end revealed how sharp the new wide receiver looked during organized team activities (OTAs), saying, “If you look back at the 49ers, this is like the first legit veteran wide receiver I’ve had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, in my opinion… Just to see him run routes and the way that he sees things, it’s just so fun.“

What really caught the attention of reporters, however, was Kittle emphasizing that Evans could give the 49ers a special element the team has lacked for years. “Mike just brings a whole new thing,” Kittle added. “You guys weren’t here for red zone. I think he had three to five touchdowns the first day. He’s incredible.“

Is Mike Evans good enough for the 49ers?

Evans is a seasoned veteran just like Kittle, but with even more mileage in the NFL. Having played in the league since 2014, he is entering his 13th season as a wide receiver. Before making the move to the Bay Area, he played exclusively for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl and earning six Pro Bowl selections.

Now with a new team, things change a bit for him. He has new teammates, a new head coach, and a younger quarterback. This transition could offer him a fresh spark, while Evans’ elite expertise provides a major boost for Brock Purdy, who benefits immensely from having another top-tier weapon on the outside.

During his final NFL season with Tampa Bay, Evans was limited to just eight games due to injury. Now fully healthy, the 49ers will look to see if he is in peak shape during the opening weeks of the upcoming 2026 season and if he can continue to produce close to his stellar 15.1 career yards-per-reception average.

“I was told it’s not a crazy goal,” Kittle said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “And so, as long as I keep on the right path and everything goes the right way, hey, I got a chance. As a 15-hour flight and a game like four days before a normal opening day, that might make it a little bit difficult…”

The fact that they will begin the season so far away from home was not well received in San Francisco. “At least, if we started the season off at home, and I didn’t have to hop on a plane for 15 hours, it might be different. But I think it just depends on how I’m feeling, if I’m cleared to go. If I’m cleared, hey, I’ll be there, and I’ll be on the field. And if they’re like, ‘Hey, it’s close,’ it’ll be a game-time decision. So, we’ll see.

“Everybody keeps telling me I won’t be back until Week 6, 7, or 8, and I’ll be like, ‘You guys believe whatever you want to believe.’ My goal is to be back there as early as possible.”

Kittle wants to move past a tough injury

The San Francisco 49ers suffered a devastating blow during their 23-19 Wild Card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2026, when star tight end George Kittle suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. The injury occurred late in the first half after Kittle hauled in a 6-yard reception—his only catch of the day—and his calf visibly popped as he planted his foot into the ground.

While the resilient Niners managed to rally in the fourth quarter to secure the win, losing the heart and soul of their team completely derailed their deep postseason aspirations and sidelined him for the remainder of the playoffs.

Historic NFL debut in Australia

The NFL is making history in Week 1 of the 2026 season by hosting the first-ever regular season game on Australian soil, featuring a massive NFC West divisional rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams. This historic matchup will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, which boasts a massive capacity of over 100,000 fans.

Because of the massive 17-hour time difference, the game is uniquely scheduled to kick off locally in Australia on Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10:35 AM. For the American audience, it will air live in prime time on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 5:35 PM PT / 8:35 PM ET.

This blockbuster event highlights the NFL‘s aggressive global expansion, anchoring a record slate of nine international games across four continents this season, and bringing elite star power down under to one of the world’s greatest sporting capitals.

Appearing on the Rich Eisen Show, Shanahan said “I know there’s a chance to” Kittle playing in the season opener on September 10, where the 49ers will play the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

Shanahan also stated that Kittle is working hard in his rehab. He suffered the injury on January 11th, in the Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles. Kittle is 32 years old, but he is as productive as ever.

Shanahan cherishes Kittle for many reasons

Not only is Kittle a role model, with no off-field issues, but he is also an incredible football players. Kittle, as a tight end, is a superstar. He catches the ball as good as anyone, and he is arguably one of the best blocking tight ends in the league.

Hence, Shanahan loves having him. He sees Kittle as a leader of men, but also as a guy that can help both in the passing game, and in the running game. Shanahan is a run-game savant, so having an elite blocker like Kittle is music to his ears.

The 49ers suffered way too many injuries in 2025

The 49ers saw Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, and Kittle get season-ending injuries, with Bosa and Williams suffering ACL tears. Fred Warner also suffered a significant ankle injury. Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Yetur Gross-Matos, all were sidelined for weeks too.

Even players who were relevant all season long, like Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings, played under a plethora of injuries. McCaffrey’s injuries were more of a wear-and-tear matter, while Jennings played games while having broken ribs. The team hopes 2026 brings a bit more health to their roster.

During Super Bowl LX week, the NFL announced that the 49ers will open the 2026 season in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams. While that trip alone represents a major travel challenge, it may not be the only international journey San Francisco makes next season.

Kittle added fuel to the speculation when he posted an Instagram story showing a route from Levi’s Stadium to Mexico City, captioned: “Another one.” The message strongly hinted that the 49ers could also be headed to Mexico in 2026.

A rare international schedule for the 49ers

If San Francisco ends up playing in both Australia and Mexico, the team could travel more than 38,000 miles during the 2026 season. No team in NFL history has surpassed that mark. The Chargers (2025) and the Rams (2016) previously logged around 37,000 miles — the highest totals recorded.

Several franchises have played two international games in the same season, but under different circumstances. The Jacksonville Jaguars have played back-to-back games in London, and the Minnesota Vikings did so last year in consecutive weeks in nearby countries such as England and Ireland. However, combining trips to Australia and Mexico would represent a much more demanding logistical challenge.

The 49ers already struggled with injuries in 2025, and added travel could further impact player health and performance. Kittle has previously voiced concerns over 49ers issues with electrical substation, and this potential schedule only intensifies those discussions.

Earlier reports suggested the Dallas Cowboys could play in Mexico, but the NFL ultimately sent them to Brazil. Now, it appears the 49ers may renew their connection with Mexico by returning to Estadio Azteca — now known as Estadio Banorte — for the first time since their 2022 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

While the theory was dismissed by NFL chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, who stated there is no evidence to support it, George Kittle wants to make sure. “If something’s affecting like negatively 0.25 percent, you’d want to know about it… You’d probably change that,” Kittle said to Jordan Rose of Complex.

“So I think all we’re saying is, as players, it’s like, we would just like to look into it to make sure it’s not something. That’s what I would just appreciate. Like, ‘Hey, this isn’t gonna affect you guys.’ And then if they come out and they do some research, like, ‘No, you guys are good,’ then I don’t think we’ll think about it.”

Kittle also voiced his displeasure with 49ers having international games

It’s been reported that 49ers could play in Mexico. It’s also rumored that the team will play in Week 1 against the Rams all the way in Australia. The tight end posted on social media his disgruntlement after the reports came out. Kittle is recovering from an Achilles tear, and he is not fond of recovering to get to leave the United States constantly.

With trips to Mexico and Australia, the 49ers will become the first team in NFL history to play multiple international games in non-consecutive weeks. Teams might have played back-to-back London games, and the Vikings played back-to-back games in London and then Ireland. However, San Francisco will also play in South America and Oceania, making an unprecedented case of traveling in NFL.

Travels can harm the team massively

If the 49ers do end up playing in both Australia and Mexico, the team will end up traveling more than 38,100 miles in 2026. That would be the most ever for a team during a regular season. The 2025 Chargers and 2016 Rams both flied over 37,000 miles, but no team has ever hit the 38,000-mile mark.

This could also imply more fatigue, jet-lag, and less time to recover or treat injuries for the team. For a team that’s always heavily injured, the less travel time you have, the better. For the 49ers, they would get a bad hand to deal with if they end up with two international games.

Kittle took a more measured tone in his comments. “As a professional athlete, you’re doing anything you can to get 1% better… What if there’s something that’s making you 1% worse? If this substation is making you 1% worse, wouldn’t you want to know about it?” Kittle said during an episode with Pat McAfee.

Kittle’s remarks are among the most recent from 49ers players on the topic, but even Christian McCaffrey had already made comments about the substation weeks earlier. Still, hearing comments from two players on the same day came as a surprise.

Bourne also spoke about the substation.

Bourne has few doubts about the substation and admits that he believes in the theory. “I kind of buy it. I’m a conspiracy theorist, so I don’t know. Our grass is brown on that side and the soccer field on the other side is green.”

“So that kind of trips me out a little bit, but I don’t know. There’s so much research they probably have to do, but whatever we can do to help prevent injuries, we’ve got to look into it,” Bourne said, adding that he hopes a deeper analysis of the situation can be done regarding the theory.

Many people, analysts, doctors, and even reporters, have been discussing the substation theory. Some have pushed back against it, including Brian Sutterer, MD, who said, “I can’t believe this EMF conspiracy is still getting traction,” while others have spoken in favor of one of the theories that has captured growing interest.

“In 2014, the same year the 49ers’ injury issues began, the substation went from a small local plant to a full regional transmission hub, increasing capacity by 2,000%. This is the detail that matters most in this story, in my opinion,” Tristan Scott (@bitcoinand_beef) wrote on X.

Kittle tore his Achilles on January 11, an injury that typically requires a lengthy recovery and would likely delay his return until late in the year. However, based on his recent comments, there is growing optimism that he could make it back onto the field sooner than initially expected.

“Surgery went really, really good,” Kittle said, via ESPN. “[Dr. Neal ElAttrache] said best-case scenario when you tear an Achilles is that you tear it up high by your soleus, which is what I did. I had a clean tear. They didn’t have to drill into my heel. And where the repair was there’s more blood flow. And so it takes some time off of the recovery time… It’s not as bad as other ones.“

The injury, suffered during the Wild Card Round matchup against the Eagles, was extremely serious, and the player himself revealed that he immediately knew the situation was severe the moment it happened.

“I knew exactly when it happened, it felt like someone put a shotgun up against my calf and pulled the trigger,” Kittle said. “The second it happened, I knew exactly what it was… Unfortunate, but football’s tough sometimes.”

How long does it take to recover from a torn ACL?

For high-performance athletes, the recovery timeline for an ACL tear typically spans between 9 and 12 months. While some elite competitors may attempt a return to the field within 6 to 8 months due to advanced rehabilitation protocols, experts generally recommend waiting at least 9 months to ensure biological graft maturity and to minimize the high risk of reinjury.

Time to reset for the San Francisco 49ers

Heading into the 2026 season, the San Francisco 49ers are laser-focused on durability after an injury-plagued campaign that sidelined cornerstone players. The team’s primary goal is to ensure that stars such as Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa or George Kittle can maintain their health throughout the year.

Alongside this rehabilitation effort, the front office is shifting its attention to the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Niners hold the 27th overall pick. With a roster that remains championship-caliber when healthy, the 49ers aim to use the draft to bolster their depth, particularly on the offensive line and in the pass rush, to better protect their stars and build a more resilient squad for another Super Bowl run.

However, a loss in Week 18 against the Seahawks changed all their plans. They lost a valuable week of rest and had to face the playoffs on the road. Surprisingly, they overcame their first obstacle by defeating the Eagles.

Now, trying to reach the Super Bowl, a rematch with Seattle is looming, but in devastating news, Kittle will not be available. Another heavy blow in a year plagued by injuries across the roster.

Why is George Kittle not playing today for 49ers against Seahawks in 2026 NFL playoffs?

George Kittle is not playing today for the 49ers against the Seahawks in the 2026 NFL playoffs because he suffered an Achilles injury last week in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He is out for the rest of the season.

Who is out for 49ers against Seahawks in Divisional Round of 2026 NFL playoffs?

George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Brandon Aiyuk are out for the 49ers against the Seahawks. Their inactives are: Isaac Guerendo (RB), Jordan Watkins (WR), Brandon Parker (OL), Robert Beal Jr. (DL), Kevin Givens (DL), Sebastian Valdez (DL), and Ji’Ayir Brown (S).

Who is inactive and out for Seahawks vs 49ers?

The inactives for the Seattle Seahawks are: Jared Ivey (LB), Josh Jones (T), Bryce Cabeldue (G), Mason Richman (T), and Rylie Mills (DE). Also out are Elijah Arroyo (TE) and Chazz Surratt (LB).

While reports say the 49ers haven’t cleared All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to return for the game against Seattle, Warner says otherwise. “I’m ready whenever they’re ready,” Warner said on Ryen Russillo’s podcast. “Unfortunately, if it were just up to me, I’d be out there this weekend, but it’s unfortunately not that way. I’ve got to make sure I’m checking all the boxes, and everybody has to give me the OK before they let me go out there.”

It seems like the 49ers are the ones holding Warner back, and they’re been cautious despite being in a win-or-go-home situation against the Seahawks. Warner hasn’t played since Week 6 when he suffered a severe ankle injury.

The 49ers should consider giving Warner a go

Obviously, Warner has to go and check all the boxes to assure the team he is fit to play, but he is very important. Warner had 51 tackles, three passes defended and two forced fumbles in only six games this season.

The four time All-Pro is widely regarded as the NFL‘s best linebacker. He alone is a game-wrecker due to his ability to read the game, his high IQ and his marvelous tackling. Another huge quality he has is how he covers the field.

The 49ers are looking for one more upset

The Seahawks are a touchdown favorite against the Niners for this game. However, at this point, you can’t count the 49ers out. Even if they don’t have George Kittle, Shanahan proved that he has a deep playbook to earn yards no matter what.

On the other side, they already beat the Seahawks this season. Albeit in Week 1, the 49ers must still feel capable of pulling off another upset. With an all-time high motivation, they will be dangerous.

Behind Kittle on the 49ers’ depth chart are Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tonges has been productive this season, scoring five touchdowns, while Farrell has recorded 11 receptions for 85 receiving yards and added two touchdowns for the team.

With Kittle sidelined, the 49ers obviously lose a veteran who knows what it takes to play in the postseason. Still, they’re not in the same position as in past seasons, when they had very limited depth available at tight end.

Eagles fans show respect for Kittle

In a genuinely classy moment, Eagles fans showed nothing but respect once they realized Kittle was being carted off the field. The scene was reported by John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia on X.

“Respect. Eagles fans clapping for George Kittle as he is taken off the field on a cart. George said this week he really appreciates how much Eagles fans love their team,” Clark posted on X. Fans in Philadelphia also echoed that sentiment across social media.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport described Kittle’s injury as devastating not only for San Francisco, but for the league as a whole: “Heartbreaking for one of the NFL’s best. George Kittle carted off after a non-contact injury.”