49ers' search for George Kittle's heir is over after Jake Tonges stands up big

The 49ers have been searching for a strong backup tight end for seemingly forever. Sunday Night Football showed the answer for both right now and for the future.

There probably isn't enough bottled oxygen on standby for everyone to collectively get their breaths back after the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears slugged it out for 60 minutes of incredible football that literally went to the final play.

It could best be described as two boxers abandoning any semblance of self-preservation and standing toe to toe, swinging and giving everything into getting in the knockout blow while absorbing obscene amounts of punishment themselves.

In the end, the Niners prevailed in an insane encounter that has the team just one win away from somehow claiming home-field advantage in the NFC.

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It's something that wouldn't have seemed possible when defensive stalwarts Fred Warner and Nick Bosa went down to a broken ankle and torn ACL, respectively, while quarterback Brock Purdy went down for half the season, tight end George Kittle went down multiple times including last week, Ricky Pearsall suffering from a PCL injury and former No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk essentially quitting the team.

A lot went into the incredible 42-38 win over the Bears. Most will talk about Purdy scoring five touchdowns again, or the final play where the 49ers defense finally stood up and forced the game-winning incompletion to somehow steal the victory.

But one unheralded player who stood up big time was backup tight end Jake Tonges, and not for the first time.

With Kittle unable to play due to injury, it was Tonges who emerged in a big way as Purdy's safety valve with seven receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown that got the 49ers offense up and rolling.

This isn't the first time Tonges has answered when called upon. He's had 34 receptions for 293 yards and five touchdowns for the season after never having a reception before this year. He's not Kittle, but he's solid backup tight end who does it all and who can start in a pinch. Someone San Francisco hasn't had for a long time.

Extending Tonges is going to be a priority for the 49ers. He has the capability to start and can only grow more under the leadership of Kittle and head coach Kyle Shanahan. There will be a day Kittle isn't here anymore, and Tonges can be the guy who delivers like he did against Chicago.

In the meantime, fans can rest assured that there's more than one tight end on the 49ers roster who's capable of making big-time plays down the stretch.