Eagles vs. SF 49ers: 5 matchups that will determine Week 4 outcome
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: SF 49ers Tight End George Kittle vs. Eagles Safety Jalen Mills
Flipping the script, it’s understandable why San Francisco is eager to get it’s own All-Pro, George Kittle, back on the field for this prime-time matchup.
The SF 49ers lost fellow tight end Jordan Reed to a knee injury last week, which is a shame after Reed shouldered the bulk of the load in Kittle’s absence after suffering his own knee injury in Week 1. While Kyle Shanahan would have loved to feature two pass-catching threats at the position, getting Kittle back in lieu of Reed is an excellent consolation prize.
Kittle practiced fully this week, which is an excellent indication he’ll be ready to go in time for Sunday’s contest.
One of the primary players responsible for covering him? Eagles strong safety Jalen Mills.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mills has already allowed five receptions on six targets this season for one touchdown. And opposing quarterbacks are posting a passer rating of 118.8 when targeting the fifth-year pro.
This bodes well for Kittle, of course, who is looking to get back on track after essentially missing the last 10 quarters of action with his injury.
Now, Philadelphia has only surrendered 93 yards to tight ends over the course of 2020 so far. But its defense has given up four touchdowns to this position, tied for most in the NFL, meaning Kittle could likely find the end zone in Week 4.