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49ers' Kittle (ankle) questionable, 'absolutely' expects to play
By Stephania Bell
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (ankle) practiced on a limited basis throughout the week and is questionable for Saturday night's game against the Seattle Seahawks. He made his intentions known, however, when speaking with reporters Wednesday, saying his left ankle felt "fabulous" and that he was in a great position for Saturday night. When asked if his expectation was that he would play, he responded, "Absolutely."
The question then becomes, if he does play, what can we expect in terms of volume and performance? Kittle was originally injured in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts. Immediately after the game, he told reporters he believed it was not a high ankle sprain. It turns out he was correct; it was a low ankle sprain that kept him out of Week 17.
Although often viewed as less serious in terms of average time missed, low ankle sprains can be problematic, depending on the degree of injury and the exact ligaments involved. Kittle appeared to have his foot visibly rotated outward, which would place more stress on the medial (inner) aspect. These sprains are less common -- and typically a bit trickier -- than lateral ankle injuries. Sitting out a week was smart, and the rest no doubt put Kittle in a much better position, particularly coming into a short week.
If Kittle is able to start, as he projects, it's likely going to be a case of seeing how he responds to game action. Coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear this week that while the 49ers don't want to risk players' health going into playoffs, this game has playoff implications that might ease their workload going forward. If Ricky Pearsall, who is a game-time decision Saturday as he continues to battle both ankle and knee injuries, does not play, then Kittle could be a more involved target for quarterback Brock Purdy.