Overview
- Kittle was injured on a six-yard reception in the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field when he was tackled by Eagles safety Marcus Epps and immediately grabbed his lower right leg.
- The 49ers announced he was out for the game with an Achilles injury after he was carted to the locker room and unable to put weight on his right leg.
- Broadcast replays showed a mechanism consistent with an Achilles rupture, according to multiple analysts and reporters, though the exact severity awaits medical evaluation.
- San Francisco is expected to lean on depth tight ends Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell and emphasize short-area passing and run concepts to compensate for Kittle’s dual role as blocker and target.
- The injury compounds a bruising season for the 49ers, who have lost other stars to long-term issues, and it came with Philadelphia leading 13-10 at halftime; typical Achilles ruptures require months of recovery.