George Kittle – blue jersey – is practicing for the first time for #49ers since his knee/ankle injury. Deebo Samuel also in blue non contact jersey.
Emmanuel Sanders in jersey but no pads. D.J. Jones, Raheem Mostert in.
Joe Staley, Dee Ford, Matt Breida, Robbie Gould out. pic.twitter.com/MfCOXN1nuE
— Jake Hutchinson (@hutchdiesel) November 21, 2019
It has been exactly three weeks since George Kittle suffered— and then played through — a knee and ankle injury in the first quarter of a 28-25 Thursday night win over the Arizona Cardinals. For the first time since that injury, Kittle was back on the 49ers practice field with pads on.
Kittle time? It’s getting closer
Kittle was wearing a blue non-contact jersey, along with wide receiver Deebo Samuel (shoulder). Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday that both were part of a seven-man group that would all be game-time decisions. This included Emmanuel Sanders (rib), who was in a jersey for the start of practice, but was not wearing pads, Matt Breida (ankle sprain) and Dee Ford (hamstring) who were doing side field work, Joe Staley (finger) and Robbie Gould (quadricep), the who were both not practicing.
While Kittle has been active on the field for the past week doing rehab work, this is the first time he’s put pads on (though he can’t be hit). If the video above doesn’t satisfy your Kittle needs, here’s a look from a bit closer via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows (he did take his helmet off at one point during practice, making it clear it was indeed him).
This isn’t exactly Scorsese quality, but #49ers fans might be happy to see George Kittle back in (modest) action. He’s the guy in blue. pic.twitter.com/yphus42Zvs
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 21, 2019
Other injuries:
- As mentioned yesterday, Azeez Al-Shaair is out of concussion protocol and back in practice with pads on in his normal jersey
- Both Dee Ford and Matt Breida were doing rehab work. Shanahan said there was fear that Ford could miss multiple weeks, but he and Breida, who suffered an ankle sprain against the Seattle Seahawks, are both game-time decisions.
- Raheem Mostert (knee) and D.J. Jones (groin) were both practicing again (limited on Wednesday). Jones told KNBR on Wednesday that he expects to play against the Packers on Sunday.
