San Francisco tight end exits playoff matchup with Eagles after serious leg injury.
The San Francisco 49ers earned a hard-fought 23–19 Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, exorcising some demons from their 2023 NFC Championship Game loss.
Yet despite the celebration, the win came with a crushing cost.
Star tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in the second quarter and is now unavailable for the remainder of the postseason, dealing a devastating blow to San Francisco’s Super Bowl hopes.
Kittle went down midway through the second quarter after being tackled near the sideline, planting his leg as safety Marcus Epps closed in.
The injury was immediately apparent. Kittle clutched his calf as trainers rushed to his side, and moments later, he was helped onto a cart, receiving taps on the helmet from Brock Purdy and several teammates as he exited the field.
The scene evoked painful memories of last year’s playoff meeting between these teams, when Purdy’s early injury altered the course of the game.
“Losing Kittle early in the game was obviously a depressing play for everybody when you see that,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “Guys stepped it up and still made plays and competed.”
At the time of Kittle’s departure, the 49ers trailed 13–7.
Without their emotional and physical centerpiece, San Francisco struggled to generate consistent offense for much of the afternoon.
As Shanahan predicted, the contest turned into a grind.
The defense kept the game within reach, and in the fourth quarter, the 49ers finally found their footing, producing two late touchdown drives to stun the Eagles and advance to the Divisional Round, where a familiar matchup with the Seahawks awaits.
Still, the victory feels bittersweet. Kittle’s absence looms large for a team that has already endured a brutal season of injuries.
Purdy missed significant time with turf toe, while stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner saw their seasons derailed by health issues.
Kittle himself had already battled through a hamstring injury early in the year and an ankle ailment late in the regular season, making this latest setback especially cruel.
Now 32, Kittle remains widely regarded as one of the best tight ends in the NFL, valued as much for his leadership and toughness as for his production.
He clapped and encouraged teammates as he was carted off, embodying the resilience that defines him.
The 49ers are still alive and still dreaming, but as they march forward in the playoffs, they will do so without one of the most important players in franchise history, a loss that will be felt on every snap.