George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers' tight end, suffered a torn Achilles in his right leg during the second quarter of the team's wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11, 2026. The injury occurred as Kittle caught a short pass and his leg gave out while trying to push off against an approaching defender. He was immediately taken to the locker room.
Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the torn Achilles after the game, stating that the trainers had identified the injury before he was carted off. The team announced that Kittle would miss the remainder of the game due to the Achilles injury, but provided no further details on his long-term prognosis. Kittle had one reception for six yards before exiting the game.
In Kittle's absence, Luke Farrell, who is primarily known for his blocking, is expected to be the primary replacement. Jake Tonges, who has seen more action as a pass-catching tight end when Kittle has been previously sidelined, should also see increased playing time.