The San Francisco 49ers are facing increasing concerns as injuries mount during their training camp. Notable players, including running back Isaa Guerendo, tight end George Kittle, and defensive end Mykel Williams, remain on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The team now has 21 players who did not fully participate in Sunday’s practice due to injuries.
Here are the players currently affected:
- Kurtis Rourke, QB (ribs)
- Christian McCaffrey, RB (tightness)
- Jordan James, RB (ribs)
- Kaelon Black, RB (adductor)
- Kyle Juszczyk, FB (finger)
- Christian Kirk, WR (calf)
- Demarcus Robinson, WR
- Vederian Lowe, OT (ankle)
- Brett Toth, OG (concussion)
- Dominick Puni, OG (concussion)
- Nick Bosa, DE (knee)
- Keion White, DE (adductor)
- Titus Leo, DE
- CJ West, DT
- Gracen Halton, DT (ankle)
- Luke Gifford, LB (hamstring)
- Nate Hobbs, CB (groin)
- Malik Mustapha, S (hamstring)
The 49ers hope to have most players recover by Week 1 when they face the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. A key player potentially returning is George Kittle, who is making efforts to recover from his Achilles injury sustained during the playoffs. Kittle addressed reporters on Sunday, indicating he might be ready for the season opener. He mentioned, “I have a chance [to play]. We’re running around a lot, hitting top speeds. Hopefully, we’re back in pads again practicing sooner rather than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumb [expletive].”
When healthy, Kittle stands as one of the NFL’s top tight ends. Last season, injuries restricted his participation to 11 games, during which he amassed 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. In the previous seasons, Kittle played 14 or more games in seven out of eight campaigns. Kittle’s contribution is crucial for San Francisco’s offense, making it unlikely that he or the team will risk him returning before full recovery.
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