SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are expecting to get star tight end George Kittle back this week for a key game against the Green Bay Packers but are uncertain whether top pass rusher Nick Bosa will be able to play. The 49ers (5-5) finished last week’s 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks without either Kittle or Bosa able to play, leading to their third loss this season after holding a late lead and leaving San Francisco’s playoff hopes in peril.
Kittle missed the entire game with a hamstring injury but was back at practice in a limited fashion Wednesday and said there was no doubt he would play Sunday against the Packers. With Kittle out, the Niners matched their season low in points and were held to their fewest yards (277) since Week 6 last season at Cleveland. Bosa left the game in the third quarter with an injury to his left hip and oblique.
He already was dealing with a similar injury on the right side that he described as the most pain he has tried to play though. Bosa said Wednesday that the left side is even worse but that he is making progress, leaving open the possibility he could play Sunday. “It gets better every day,” he said.
“We’ll see. Definitely a little early to call it either way, so we’ll find out. We have a few days.
” Bosa’s absence played a big role in San Francisco’s latest blown lead after squandering games against the Rams in Week 3 and the Cardinals in Week 5. Seattle was averaging 3.6 yards per play with six point.
