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49ers preseason: Player stock watch after Week 3 loss to Vikings

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to teammate Carlos Hyde #28 against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to teammate Carlos Hyde #28 against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the preseason game on August 27, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 15: George Kittle #46 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs with a reception 22 yards for a first down against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half of the game at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 15, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Iowa defeated Purdue 49-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 15: George Kittle #46 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs with a reception 22 yards for a first down against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first half of the game at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 15, 2016 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Iowa defeated Purdue 49-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Tight End George Kittle

A week ago, rookie tight end George Kittle pushed his stock up a great deal by hauling in an impressive 29-yard catch-and-run touchdown against the Denver Broncos.

With so many questions about the 49ers’ future at tight end, that play all but guaranteed Kittle a spot on the 53-man roster and put him into the discussion whether or not he’d actually start.

Yet Week 3 of the preseason might have forced San Francisco to pump the breaks a little bit.

Kittle was absent from the stat sheet, targeted only twice and failing to come down with any catches thrown his way.

But the bigger issue was a missed block on a 3rd-and-7 play that led to a Eric Kendricks sack of quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Note Kittle, lined up in the offset to Hoyer’s left, and how the rookie doesn’t pick up the interior rush in time:

It’s not unusual for rookie tight ends to struggle in pass protection. But this will have to be a staple of Kittle’s game to ensure he remains a contender for a starting spot this season.

Stock: Down