George Kittle got into the end zone twice for the 49ers on Sunday in Tampa. Neither jaunt to pay dirt counted, because there were penalties on both plays.
The first touchdown came in the first quarter and was called back on an offensive pass interference call on fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Juszczyk was lined up as a tight end on the right side and took out a Bucs defender across the middle right as Kittle broke outside. It was a walk-in touchdown, and probably would’ve been even without Juszczyk wiping out a defender.
The second one was dead before the snap. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey was lined up improperly, and the 49ers were flagged for an illegal formation. Kittle caught a throw over the middle, bounced off a defender and strolled untouched the rest of the way into the end zone.
Kittle had a theory after the game on why his teammates committed those two penalties. Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee had video of Kittle’s postgame press conference:
“Well, on that I’m pretty sure (Juszczyk) Juice and McGlinchey are playing against me in fantasy football,” the third-year tight end joked. “So I’m pretty sure that’s what that was. That’s not my fault.”
Kittle went on to explain that the frustration on penalties on big plays comes with the offense getting put in first- or second-and-long situations.
Juszczyk rushed to his own defense on Twitter and said he actually has the 49ers tight end on his team.
What can’t go overlooked here is that Juszczyk’s fantasy team name is “Mother Buckners.” That’s terrific.
