49ers roster: Why 2022 is so vital to All-Pro tight end George Kittle
By Peter Panacy
Still a vital part of the 49ers offense, George Kittle might not be the go-to option entering 2022, but he’ll have to reinvent himself as a No. 1 threat.
The San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle remains one of the top tight ends in the NFL today.
No one is questioning that.
However, people may question if he classifies as one of the top-three tight ends entering 2022, perhaps set back a bit by a notable injury history and the fact it was All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, not Kittle, through whom the Niners offense flowed for nearly all of last season.
That argument probably depends on whether or not you’re a San Francisco fan. If so, Kittle is a top-three tight end. If not, he’s probably within the top five.
Either way, Kittle’s upcoming campaign is going to be vital, both for the 49ers and for the former fifth-round NFL Draft pick himself.
| Game | Game | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | 1D | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% | Y/Tgt | Fmb |
| 2017 | 24 | SFO | 15 | 7 | 63 | 43 | 515 | 12.0 | 2 | 24 | 44 | 2.9 | 34.3 | 68.3% | 8.2 | 0 |
| 2018* | 25 | SFO | 16 | 16 | 136 | 88 | 1377 | 15.6 | 5 | 60 | 85 | 5.5 | 86.1 | 64.7% | 10.1 | 0 |
| 2019*+ | 26 | SFO | 14 | 14 | 107 | 85 | 1053 | 12.4 | 5 | 53 | 61 | 6.1 | 75.2 | 79.4% | 9.8 | 1 |
| 2020 | 27 | SFO | 8 | 8 | 63 | 48 | 634 | 13.2 | 2 | 32 | 44 | 6.0 | 79.3 | 76.2% | 10.1 | 0 |
| 2021* | 28 | SFO | 14 | 14 | 94 | 71 | 910 | 12.8 | 6 | 42 | 48 | 5.1 | 65.0 | 75.5% | 9.7 | 2 |
| Career | Career | 67 | 59 | 463 | 335 | 4489 | 13.4 | 20 | 211 | 85 | 5.0 | 67.0 | 72.4% | 9.7 | 3 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 6/26/2022.
The Niners are charting into uncertain waters in 2022 with second-year quarterback Trey Lance poised to take over under center from one of Kittle’s closest teammates, Jimmy Garoppolo.
It’s not hard to understand why Lance will need a reliable big-time threat like Kittle on the field.
At the same time, Kittle will need to establish that rapport with the young quarterback, too, meaning a top-performing 2022 campaign should be a major priority.
Let’s look at why that needs to happen right now.