Niners Nation
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the San Francisco 49ers are placing George Kittle on the Injured Reserve. So he’ll miss at least the next four games. That includes two divisional games against the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams game is on Thursday night, so if Kittle should get an extra week to heal and potentially return by Week 6, ten days after Week 5 in Los Angeles.
So, Kittle out, Kendrick Bourne in. The 49ers still have a roster spot, well, technically two, if you’re counting the kicker. Brayden Willis is on the practice squad. He’ll likely be elevated to the active roster. Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell saw plenty of action in Kittle’s absence during Week 1.
Kyle Juszczyk lined up 10 times as an inline tight end in Week 1. He’s been the pseudo TE2 behind Kittle for the previous two years. He makes as much sense as anybody.
The 49ers could bring back Ross Dwelley, who is 30. He was released during training camp, but he was with the team this past offseason and is familiar with the offense. Dwelley didn’t see much action last season with the Atlanta Falcons. In his career, he has 45 receptions for 523 yards. However, the 49ers have shifted to bigger bodies who can block at the position, which may have played a factor in Dwelley not earning a roster spot to begin the season.
Hayden Hurst, 32, is a former first-round pick. He had his most productive season back in 2020. Hurst, 6’4″, 245 pounds, has had multiple injuries throughout his career, including concussions, calf strains, ankle sprains, and hamstring pulls.
He’s played on four different teams in the previous four years, suggesting he’s a shell of what he was when the Baltimore Ravens selected him out of South Carolina in 2018. But the 49ers need bodies temporarily. Perhaps a veteran like Hurst could fill that void.
Vannett is the biggest of the three, at 6’5″, 257 pounds. The 32-year-old is a former third-round pick out of Ohio State. Originally drafted by the Seahawks, Vannett has bounced around, with the Titans as recently as last season. Vannett caught 17 passes for 135 yards last year.
He’s currently on the Vikings practice squad. Vannett covered punts and kicks last year, and played 361 snaps as an inline tight end. At 6’6″, 261 pounds, he could be the prototype veteran to help the 49ers in the interim.
