49ers Make Major George Kittle Announcement Before Falcons Game
Injuries have played a large part in the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2025 campaign to this point. From the get-go, the Niners have been hit hard by the injury bug, but they haven’t let it derail them, as they have posted a 4-2 record through their first six games. And now, heading into Week 7, it looks like the team is set to get a major boost on offense.
One of the first injuries the 49ers were dealt this season involved star tight end George Kittle, as he was forced out of the team’s season-opener against the Seattle Seahawks with a hamstring injury. After landing on injured reserve, Kittle hasn’t played since then, but he appears set to finally make his return to action for the Niners.
49ers Activate George Kittle from Injured Reserve Ahead of Week 7
Looking across the league, it’s tough to say that another team has dealt with more injuries than the 49ers. On offense, more than half of their starters have been forced to miss time, and on defense, their two best players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, have suffered season-ending injuries. The fact that this team is even 4-2 at this point is nothing short of a miracle.
In Week 7, San Fran is still going to be without several starters on offense, as quarterback Brock Purdy will miss another game, while wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is also out. Reinforcements have arrived in the form of Kittle, who should immediately take on a big role in the offense once he officially returns to action.
Kittle caught four passes for 25 yards and a touchdown before being forced out of San Francisco’s season-opening win over Seattle, and now, it looks like he’s set to add to those numbers. Ahead of the team’s upcoming contest, Kittle was officially activated from injured reserve, giving him the green light to suit up for the first time since Week 1.
49ers Hoping George Kittle Can Help Them Beat Falcons in Week 7
GettySan Francisco 49ers’ tight end George Kittle takes the field prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card playoff game
With Kittle back, the Niners’ offense figures to be much improved moving forward. Not only should Kittle be a top target in the passing game, but he figures to be able to help open up rushing lanes on the ground for Christian McCaffrey. While San Francisco has largely managed to overcome its injury woes to this point, it’s always been clear that they would need to get guys like Kittle back sooner rather than later.
Kittle’s return couldn’t have come at a better time, as the 49ers may need him to immediately be at his best in Week 7 with a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons on deck. The Falcons have a strong defense, which they showed in Week 6 when they handed the Buffalo Bills their secondary straight loss. With kickoff for this game scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday Night Football, all eyes will be on Kittle to see how he fares in his return to action for San Fran.
Jordan Love Led to Packers’ Controversial Call
Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass in the first quarter of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.
All things considered, it’s probably not what the Packers should have done. And it was not coach Matt LaFleur’s first instinct, not with this team trailing by three points and facing a fourth-and-two from the Arizona 29-yard line with 2:32 to play. In fact, LeFleur had sent out the field-goal unit for a try of about 46 yards.
But as he sent out kicker Lucas Havrisik, the fill-in for the injured Brandon McManus who set a franchise record by making a last-second 61-yarder at the end of the first half, LaFleur caught sight of quarterback Jordan Love.
Then he called a time out and called Havrisik back in, deciding to be aggressive and go for the first down there. After the game, LaFleur was asked why.
“I saw the disdain on the quarterback’s face,” he said.
Jordan Love felt the Packers could convert the first and push for the go-ahead touchdown. He was right. The Packers completed a 15-yard pass, and three plays later, they scored a touchdown to take a 27-23 lead, the final score of the game in Arizona.
Jordan Love Found Tucker Kraft
The key play was the 15-yard throw from Love on that fourth down just before the two-minute warning. It went to Tucker Kraft, who beat Dadrion Taylor-Demerson on the left sideline for the 15-yard catch.
Kraft, Love said was not the first option. But he was the open one, and Kraft made his fifth catch of the day (for 58 yards)
“We had two plays called, and the play we called really wasn’t designed for Tuck but we got three options right there,” Kraft said. “The first two they did a good job, and Tuck did a great job going up and being able to win. It’s all one-on-one, it’s all man across the board. Someone’s gotta win there, and Tuck did.”
The Packers ran three plays to Josh Jacobs to punch in the touchdown.
Packers Now 4-1-1
But while the Packers looked sloppy and overmatched for much of the game, the fourth-down decision was the talk of the postgame.
“It’s a tough one,” Love said. “You’re sitting there and you’re thinking what the situation is. Three points ties it up, but you sit there and you’re like, man there is a lot of time left. They can go down there and kick a field goal with that for the win with that much time and the time outs.”
For the 4-1-1 Packers, it was a major decision, Love said.
“It’s big time,” he said. “Obviously I think for Matt to go for that in that situation, and to have confidence in us to go make a play and for us to go out there and do it, that’s one of those decisions that is gonna suck if we don’t get it but when you do, it made us able to go out there and get the win. It’s big time, big-time play by Tuck to go out there and get that. And obviously to finish it off with the touchdown is huge.”
Packers’ Jordan Love Credits Coach
Love said he loved the decision and while LaFleur credited Love’s disdain for the Packers’ aggressiveness, Love said the choice belonged to LaFleur.
“It was quick. I could see us deciding what we were gonna do, obviously sent the kick team came out and we were still thinking about it,” Love said. “Matt ultimately decided we were gonna go for it, so he called that time out. But that’s really all Matt having that confidence.”
LaFleur explained the willingness to gamble.
“Scared money don’t make money,” the coach said.
