There's an awfully good chance All-Pro tight end George Kittle is ready to play the San Francisco 49ers' regular-season opener all the way across the Pacific against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, after suffering a torn Achilles in the playoffs last January.
Yet there's an equally good chance he's not quite ready, and that might be the best development possible for a fringe tight end largely overlooked over the last three years, Brayden Willis.
The Oklahoma product, whom the Niners grabbed in Round 7 of the 2023 NFL Draft, had promise as a physical weapon—never fearing contact in either the blocking or receiving game. Yet his tenure with San Francisco since his rookie year hasn't exactly popped off the page.
Regularly bouncing back and forth from the active roster to the practice squad, the 6-foot-4 and 240-pound Willis has yet to catch a pass over 23 regular-season games, and he's been targeted just three times. Now, that makes sense in light of the fact the bulk of his snaps have come almost exclusively on special teams.
Willis' special teams prowess alone certainly won't be enough to salvage a roster spot, though.
If anything, he might need Kittle to miss some time if he wants any realistic shot at hanging around the 53-man roster.
Brayden Willis' last shot at 49ers' 53-man roster hinges on George Kittle's health
At best, Willis is the No. 4 option on the depth chart behind Kittle, Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tack on Hayden Rucci and the recently added Josiah Deguara, and it's not hard to see how thick the competition will be for what'll likely be a fringe spot—bouncing back and forth from the practice squad and 53-man roster.
Willis has already done this for several years, but the generated results have been almost nonexistent.
Perhaps San Francisco has seen enough at this point and opts to try something new once Week 1 rolls around, which could mean Willis' tenure with the team comes to a close.
However, should Kittle's injury threaten not only his Week 1 availability but possibly cut into the first few weeks, Willis' stock value rises considerably. Sure, he won't be a featured go-to (Tonges already has that role carved out), but Willis' value as a reserve would be significantly greater.
True, it'd be odd for someone like Willis to "hope" for a Kittle absence. But, in this case, it might be the only way he hangs around with the 49ers for just a little bit longer.
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