SANTA CLARA, Calif. — George Kittle’s season debut should come Sunday night in Denver, and while his explosive ability as a receiver could complement Jimmy Garoppolo’s first start since last season’s playoffs, Kittle’s blocking prowess will enhance the NFL’s No. 4 rushing attack.
“He means a ton in both (facets),” coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, when Kittle fully was cleared to play. “He’s one of our better players. Having him out there is a huge deal for us.”
Kittle, on the verge of his sixth season, is looking forward to Saturday night’s great unveil of the 49ers’ opening script, of which there’ll surely be a mix of ways to use him.
“We always do a really good job with our run script. Excited about those, to be back part of the outside zone in this offense,” Kittle said Friday, after his fourth straight practice. “But catching a pass and hopefully running through somebody also will be pretty fun.”
He recalled doing the latter in “decent” fashion in 2018 against the Broncos, when he racked up 210 receiving yards. the eighth-highest total in 49ers history.
What makes him such a complete tight end, when healthy, is his blocking prowess. That leads to this weekly question: Which 49ers’ running backs will play?
Jeff Wilson Jr. is coming off an 83-yard, turn-back-the-clock effort in Sunday’s home-opening win over Seattle, so he’ll remain the primary option to take Garoppolo’s handoffs or pitches.
And then? Well, with Elijah Mitchell on Injured Reserve (knee) and Ty Davis-Price (ankle) ruled out this game, the 49ers’ remaining options are to give rookie Jordan (“J.P.”) Mason his first NFL touches, to have veteran Marlon Mack make his 49ers’ debut, and, perhaps most irristable of all, to let Deebo Samuel take the ball and rumble.
“Yeah, I need a program and a depth chart to know who’s up for sure,” run game coordinator Chris Foerster quipped Thursday.
Regardless, it’s not a one-man band in the backfield, with Garoppolo working as the handoff maestro.
Wilson is a favorite of coaches and teammates, but as Foerster noted: “Jeff’s thing has been, out of all of it, has been durability. He runs like a big back. He runs physically. He runs tough. … With all of them, you just can’t wear them out. That’s why you have to have a couple guys back there that can tote the rock, even on the good running teams.
“When you look at Cleveland, who’s an excellent running team, they’ve got the two runners, you’ve got (Nick) Chubb and you’ve got (Kareem) Hunt. … There’s traditionally, always a second guy, so it’s not going to be Jeff Wilson, just toting the mail every single snap.”
Wilson had 18 carries against the Seahawks, and Davis-Price had 14 while, unbeknownst to him and the 49ers, the rookie was playing on a high ankle sprain, an injury that will keep him out Sunday and maybe shelve him a month. Samuel had just four carries, but he took one for 51 yards.
“At the end of the day, they’re going to try to feature Deebo and try to get him all of his touches,” Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said Thursday. “(The Broncos) understand that it’s going through him and going through (No.) 85, (Kittle). The run game is the key to their success.”
Kittle injured his groin Sept. 5 and missed the first two games this season. He resumed practicing last Friday, and he resumed practicing with Garoppolo as QB1 on Wednesday, to which Kittle said: “Couldn’t really tell a difference since last year. We’re really fortunate to have Jimmy, especially after that horrific injury (to Trey Lance), somebody that wasn’t new to the team, knew the guys and their strengths, not confused by all the long play calls on those wristbands that are wild.”
