Colton McKivitz has only made two starts at tackle in his NFL career. In both he had to rise to a substantial challenge.

The 2020 fifth-round pick did so successfully, on each occasion stepping up and performing well in relief of injured left tackle Trent Williams in games against Aaron Donald and the Rams in 2021 and 2022.

Now on the right side, McKivitz will begin his first season as a starter for the Niners following the departure of Mike McGlinchey with an even more imposing test as he gets set to face Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt in Week 1.

McKivitz's matchup with the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year could prove to be a decisive one in an extremely intriguing Week 1 clash.

San Francisco's Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle is likely to provide McKivitz with help against Watt given his acumen in the blocking game. Kittle, though, has plenty of faith in McKivitz's ability to hold up versus one of the game's best.

"He’s a starter for the San Francisco 49ers. I mean, I think he’s going to play at a high level," Kittle said of McKivitz, per NBC Sports Bay Area.

"I know he’s going to play at a high level. I thought he had a good training camp. Every time I got a rep next to him in the last couple years when he got to sub in for someone that was hurt, I thought he did an excellent job.

"I don’t think we’re going to leave him one-on-one every single play. I’m not going to give you all of our game plan, but we’re going to help him out as much as we can. But I don’t have concern. I think Colton’s going to do a great job."

Watt figures to be especially motivated to make an impact right off the bat for the Steelers after a 2022 heavily disrupted by injury. McKivitz's ability to vindicate Kittle's belief and blunt Watt's ambition will go a long way to deciding the outcome in Pittsburgh.

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