49ers inactives vs. Steelers: George Kittle will play despite nagging injury

With George Kittle healthy enough, check out which 49ers players have the honor of being inactive for the 2023 regular-season opener against the Steelers.

There was good enough of a doubt that San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle might miss his team's regular-season opener in Week 1 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers while dealing with a groin injury that had been plaguing him since training camp.

General manager John Lynch previously admitted it was something Kittle tends to deal with every season, and once the tight end gets through the injury, he's usually OK for the rest of the season.

It appears as if "getting through it" took place between the end of the preseason and Week 1.

All reports suggest that Kittle will play Week 1 for the Niners, the first of which came from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday morning.

San Francisco will surely want Kittle when going up against a Steelers defense that ranked 10th in scoring a season ago.

With Kittle active, who will be the 49ers' first set of inactive players of the 2023 season?

49ers Week 1 inactives vs. Steelers:

The Niners aren't going to dress the following players:

• QB Brandon Allen
• OL Nick Zakelj
• DT Kalia Davis
• LB Dee Winters
• LB Jalen Graham
• TE Brayden Willis
• RB Ty Davis-Price

Related story: 49ers vs. Steelers: Latest betting odds, how to watch and stream Week 1 game

Cornerback Charvarius Ward (groin) was also listed as questionable prior to Week 1, but he was seen going through pregame warmups with the rest of the defensive backs. A good suggestion he would play.

Instead, the Niners will dress down three of their drafted rookies in Winters, Graham and Willis.

San Francisco will kick off its Week 1 contest against Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 10 from Acrisure Stadium.

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