Will Kittle play Sunday vs. N.Y. Giants? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Tight end George Kittle won't suit up Sunday for the 49ers after all.
Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday in a video conference call that the All-Pro is out Sunday against the New York Giants.
Shanahan, speaking earlier Friday KNBR's "Murph & Mac Show," originally said the All-Pro will be a game-time decision for the 49ers' matchup Sunday against the Giants. Teams must officially declare their list of inactive players 90 minutes before kickoff.
The 49ers return to action in Week 3 after spending a week practicing in West Virginia between back-to-back games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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The 49ers were hit hard by injuries in the team's 31-13 win last week over the Jets on the same field on which they will play on Sunday.
The 49ers will not have the services of at least four of their top offensive players.
Jimmy Garoppolo is out with a high-ankle sprain, so Nick Mullens will make his ninth NFL start. Kittle set the NFL record for most receiving yards for a tight end in 2018 with Mullens feeding him the ball for a good percentage of his 1,377 yards.
Also, running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman will be sidelined with knee injuries, Shanahan reiterated Friday. Mostert is expected back soon, while Coleman is expected to miss approximately four weeks.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel remains out of action while on injured reserve, as he rehabs from offseason foot surgery. Samuel is eligible to return in the 49ers' Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Levi's Stadium.
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In Kittle's absence last week, the 49ers' offense received major contributions from veteran tight end Jordan Reed, whom the organization signed to a one-year contract at the opening of training camp this summer.
Reed had eight passes thrown his way on Sunday against the Jets. He caught seven passes for 50 yards, including first-half touchdown receptions from Garoppolo of 18 and 4 yards. Reed, 30, is an eight-year NFL veteran who has appeared in just 67 career games. He missed all of last season after sustaining his seventh documented concussion in the preseason.
Kittle did not travel with his teammates for the Week 2 game at MetLife Stadium. He rejoined the 49ers in West Virginia, where he went through limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday.
He remained back in Santa Clara for a couple extra days of treatment last week on his left knee. Kittle sustained a partially torn MCL in the 49ers' Week 1 game, when Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker hit Kittle as he landed after jumping for a high pass from Garoppolo.
RELATED: Kittle says hit from Cardinals safety Baker was clean
The 49ers complained loudly about the newly installed turf at MetLife Stadium. So if the 49ers are concerned that the playing surface is unsafe, would it have made sense to play Kittle if he is not quite 100 percent?
Kittle said Thursday he could not offer an informed opinion of the field conditions because he did not step on that field last week. The 49ers had six players report ankle and knee injuries during the game. Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas sustained season-ending torn ACLs in the first quarter.
One thing is for certain, Kittle did not find the experience enjoyable of seeing his teammates play while he was 3,000 miles away.
“Watching the Niners play on TV is not really fun when I should be out on the field with them,” Kittle said. “So I’m looking forward to the next time I have the opportunity to play again. Whenever that is, I can’t wait.”
