The San Francisco 49ers stayed perfect with a Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but George Kittle was running on fumes to help make it happen. The star tight end revealed this week that he battled an illness heading into last Sunday’s matchup at Lumen Field, one that left him feeling far from himself.
“Terrible, like a shell of myself,” Kittle told reporters. “Horrible, not a lot of juice, but when you have enough caffeine in you, you can definitely play football.”
When asked whether it was the flu, Kittle said he was not sure, but the effects lingered well beyond game day. “I don’t know. I was sick for like a while and I feel like I just got over it today,” he said. “So it’s been a grind, but we’re past it.”
The illness also took a physical toll. Kittle had said he might have lost 10 pounds while sick, and when asked whether he has gained the weight back, he indicated he is nearly there.
“We’re close to it, so enough,” Kittle said. “But yeah, that was a grinder. But like I said, we made it through it. Shout out to the trainer. They gave me all the things I needed to keep me on a football field.”
The 49ers listed Kittle as dealing with an illness before kickoff, but he was not among the inactives and suited up as expected. He finished with five catches on six targets for 24 yards in a 32-29 win that moved San Francisco to 5-0 and dropped Seattle to 3-2.
It was a quiet afternoon by his standards. Kittle entered the game with 16 receptions for 244 yards and four touchdowns through the first four weeks.
Kittle also pointed out that the schedule worked in his favor. He said he was thankful the 49ers’ next game falls on a Monday night rather than a Thursday, which gave him an extra day to recover before getting back on the field.
San Francisco hosts the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football on Oct. 19, and the 49ers will look to stay unbeaten with a healthier Kittle back near full strength.