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
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.
- •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.
- 2:30 AMYahoo Sports — Injured 49ers superstar falls in position rankings by coaches, execs
"ESPN released their 2026 tight end rankings from NFL coaches and executives on Friday, and 49ers tight end George Kittle dropped from 2025.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- NFL•Jul 11, 2026, 12:48 AMJerry Rice's Son on the Move Again: Could the 49ers Eventually End Brenden's Odyssey?
- NFL•Jul 10, 2026, 10:48 PM3 bold trades the Steelers should make before 2026 season
- NFL•Jul 10, 2026, 8:30 PMFormer Georgia QB Carson Beck remains unsigned months after NFL draft
- NFL•Jul 10, 2026, 7:07 PM2023 draft class, where are Byron Young and Co. now?
- NFL•Jul 10, 2026, 7:00 PMSteve Young expresses concern for Brandon Aiyuk
- NFL•Jul 10, 2026, 5:01 PM49ers' George Kittle ranked by NFL as 3rd-best TE with one thing holding him back
