The Green Bay Packers better be prepared to face one of the game’s best tight ends on Sunday night.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is expected to play through his ankle injury and return to the field for the first time since suffering the injury on Oct. 31 against the Arizona Cardinals.
The 49ers listed Kittle, who practiced in a limited capacity this week, as questionable. Schefter reports that Kittle suffered a broken bone in his ankle against the Cardinals and still isn’t recovered from the injury.
Kittle has 46 catches for 541 yards and two touchdowns this season. He set the NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end last season when he was named a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur called Kittle one of the game’s best tight ends.
The Packers don’t have an obvious coverage option against Kittle, although defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will likely use a bunch of players, including safeties Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage and Ibraheim Campbell, and possibly even second-year linebacker Oren Burks or slot cornerback Tramon Williams.
All players must be ready to take on Kittle in the run game and tackle him after the catch. Even at less than 100 percent, Kittle presents major problems for the Packers as a blocker and a receiver.
Inactives are due 90 minutes before game time. By about 6:00 p.m. CT, the Packers will know if they’ll have to face Kittle or not.
