49ers find TE depth amid George Kittle injury concerns

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10 with a roster that has faced some challenges recently. Tight end George Kittle made the trip to Melbourne, Australia for the game and has practiced with the intention of playing despite lingering concerns from a torn Achilles suffered in January. Kittle is one of the 49ers’ most dynamic receivers and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game on San Francisco’s Week 1 injury report.

If Kittle can’t go, the 49ers’ tight end depth will be seriously tested against a fierce Rams defense. On Sunday, the 49ers made a personnel announcement at the position in hopes of fortifying it ahead of the 2026 season that could factor into how their playing rotation looks going forward. San Francisco announced it has signed tight end Brayden Willis to its practice squad, adding depth at a position of need.

“The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have signed TE Brayden Willis to the team’s practice squad,” the franchise said.

Willis has played three seasons in the NFL, all of them with the 49ers, from 2023 to 2025. He has appeared in 23 games and has not recorded yards or a catch on offense, but he has chipped in on special teams with ten tackles for coach Kyle Shanahan’s team.

Willis, who played his college ball with the Oklahoma Sooners, was selected by San Francisco in the seventh round (247th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft and has lived up to his selection so far as a depth piece on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, he is a solid blocker who does what is necessary to contribute to Shanahan’s team when called upon.

Kittle’s absence would put added pressure on receivers including Deebo Samuel and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling to make plays in his stead against a star-studded Rams team. Stribling is a promising second round rookie out of Ole Miss who could eventually team with Kittle to form a promising one-two punch down the field for quarterback Brock Purdy’s team as the 49ers chase their first Super Bowl appearance since 2024.

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