Bucs could dodge a bullet from 49ers this week that the Falcons may have to deal with instead
The 49ers will still be without a big part of their offense on Sunday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head into their matchup on Sunday afternoon against the San Francisco 49ers with a number of major injury question marks. However, one of the few teams in the league dealing with more injury issues is undoubtedly the 49ers.
The Niners’ woes started in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, when star tight end George Kittle suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve. He’s eligible to return on Sunday against the Bucs.
However, according to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, it sounds like he won’t be available on Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Kyle Shanahan indicates a possible return for star TE George Kittle, not this week against the Bucs, but rather next week against the Falcons
“Yeah, they’re all progressing,” Shanahan said about Kittle and OL Ben Bartch, both of whom are on injured reserve. “Hopefully, we’ll have a chance for Kittle next week. Just a chance. I don’t think Bartch is up next week, though.”
And that team next week is the Atlanta Falcons, whom San Francisco will play on Sunday night football in Santa Clara. So, an absence on Sunday for Kittle and a return there would be a double whammy against Atlanta and for Tampa Bay. Last season against the Bucs, Kittle had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco’s 23-20 win.
In Kittle’s absence this year, 49ers tight end Jake Tonges has largely filled his role in the passing game. In five games, he has 19 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. However, over the last two games with QB Mac Jones, he has 99 of those yards and two scores.
So, while Tonges doesn’t bring the upside that Kittle does, he’s still someone who’s been effective in the passing attack and will have to be accounted for by the Bucs’ defense. Last week, Seattle tight end AJ Barner had seven catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa Bay.
The Bucs and 49ers will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
