League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Injuries

George Kittle drops in tight end rankings due to injury concerns

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 11, 2026, 2:30 AM

Last updated Jul 11, 2026

George Kittle drops in tight end rankings due to injury concerns

Summary

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has fallen to No. 3 in ESPN's 2026 tight end rankings, dropping one spot from 2025. Coaches and executives cited concerns over his injury history, including a torn Achilles suffered during the playoffs and a previous hamstring injury. Despite these issues, an NFC executive noted that when healthy, Kittle remains a dominant force and the standard for the position. Other top-ranked tight ends include Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. Kittle’s performance in the upcoming season could influence his rankings further.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Kittle was ranked third among tight ends by ESPN coaches and executives.
•He dropped one spot from last year's ranking.
•Kittle's injury history raises concerns about his durability.
•He is recovering from a torn Achilles and previous hamstring issues.
•Brock Bowers and Trey McBride currently rank above Kittle.

Latest Updates

2:30 AMYahoo Sports — Injured 49ers superstar falls in position rankings by coaches, execs

What they're saying

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ESPN released their 2026 tight end rankings from NFL coaches and executives on Friday, and 49ers tight end George Kittle dropped from 2025.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

San Francisco 49ers NFL Football