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Nick WagonerJan 11, 2026, 06:03 PM ET
- Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga.
PHILADELPHIA — San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle departed Sunday’s wild-card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a little more than six minutes left in the second quarter because of a right Achilles injury.
A cart took Kittle to the locker room as teammates and opponents surrounded him and wished him well.
On the play, he made a 6-yard catch from quarterback Brock Purdy, but while Kittle attempted to cut up field, his right leg appeared to give way before Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackled him. Kittle stayed down, with Niners medical staff rushing to the Philadelphia sideline to check on him.
A couple of minutes later, the cart came out for Kittle and took him to the locker room. A possible return was ruled out with two minutes left in the first half.
The television broadcast showed Kittle encouraging and clapping for his teammates as he was taken to the locker room. Kittle missed five of the first six games this season with a hamstring injury and was inactive in Week 17 because of an ankle issue.
Kittle returned last week against the Seattle Seahawks and had no injury designation heading into Sunday’s game.
