George Kittle must be salivating over Vikings' latest injury report

The Vikings could be without a couple of their safeties in Week 2 against the 49ers, which opens the door for a George Kittle game.

While San Francisco 49ers fans have been worried about whether or not All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey's calf and Achilles injuries are serious, Minnesota Vikings fans could just as easily be concerned about a number of their top players dealing with notable injuries heading into Week 2, too.

Wide receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) doesn't seem poised to play versus San Francisco, but the latest Norsemen injury report causes concern for Minnesota's defense.

And that might be music to tight end George Kittle's ears.

Vikings list Harrison Smith on injury report, could benefit George Kittle in Week 2

Minnesota put veteran safety Harrison Smith on its injury report Thursday, holding him out of practice because of a hip issue.

Granted, Smith's days of being a top-flight defensive back responsible for covering elite tight ends and running backs are in the past, but he's still a vital part of the Vikings defense.

Compounding the problem, backup safety Theo Jackson apparently suffered a leg injury during practice, too, potentially weakening Minnesota's secondary even further.

But Harrison is the name to watch here.

The Vikings are already forced to contend with the multitude of other weapons the 49ers will throw at them this Sunday, meaning Harrison likely would have been responsible for much of the coverage on Kittle.

Kittle, meanwhile, will look to expand upon the four-catch, 40-yard effort he had against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 1.

If a hobbled and/or absent Harrison ends up being the primary weakness within Minnesota's defense, expect Kittle to be the primary beneficiary when the two teams face each other in Week 2's showdown on Sunday, Sept. 15 at US Bank Stadium.

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