4 injured SF 49ers who bounce back in a big way in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: SF 49ers Tight End George Kittle
While Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are prolific offensive weapons for San Francisco, it’s best offensive centerpiece remains All-Pro tight end George Kittle.
Kittle certainly had a down year in 2020, particularly with him suffering his own foot fracture in Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks that held him out until Week 16. Missing two other games earlier in the season also resulted in Kittle appearing in just eight contests where he hauled in a total of 48 receptions for 634 yards and two touchdowns.
Again, stretching that split over the course of a full 16-game season, Kittle would have produced a 1,268-yard campaign. And what makes those numbers all the more impressive was he did so with three different quarterbacks tossing him the ball: Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard.
It doesn’t matter who’s under center. Kittle will still do damage.
As long as Kittle is on the field, and especially with Samuel and Aiyuk grabbing attention, Kittle will get his chances.
There’s no reason to expect anything else but a massive bounce-back tour from Kittle in 2021.