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Tight end Brayden Willis, left, was activated off the 49ers practice squad on Saturday.

The 49ers are making contingency plans at tight end with George Kittle’s status in question for Sunday’s game against the Bears.

Brayden Willis, a third-year veteran with 22 career appearances, was activated from San Francisco’s practice squad on Saturday along with linebacker Eric Kendricks.

A 2023 seventh-round pick (247th overall) out of Oklahoma, Willis has played primarily on special teams. He’s been targeted once in five games this season and is still awaiting his first career catch.

Kendricks, 32, has two tackles in one game for San Francisco. His best season came in 2019 with the Vikings when he had 110 tackles with two fumble recoveries and was an All-Pro.

Kittle Listed as Questionable for Sunday

The 26-year-old Willis could be insurance for Kittle, who sustained an ankle injury in the Week 16 win over the Colts. He was later diagnosed with a mid-to-low ankle sprain.

After missing practice all week, Kittle was listed as questionable on Friday.

With only two other tight ends on the roster in Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell, the 49ers will be counting on Willis to provide additional depth.

Kittle could still play, but Willis’ activation doesn’t bode well for his chances of being active. It’d be a big loss for the 49ers (11-4), who have already clinched a spot in the playoffs but remain in the hunt for the NFC West title.

Kittle, a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, has 52 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games this season.

 

Willis Has Played Extensively on Special Teams

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Willis has done most of his work on special teams, recording five tackles (three solo) this season and nine for his career.

Tonges could see most of the first-team reps with Kittle out, much like he did earlier this season when Kittle was sidelined with a strained hamstring. Tonges has 27 catches for 233 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games.

Winners of five straight and six of the past seven, San Francisco can still clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed and homefield advantage in the postseason if they win out. They host the Seahawks (12-3) in Week 18.

Douglas Bonjour is a breaking news contributor covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy. He is also a contributing writer for The Associated Press and has worked for Point Spreads, the Connecticut Post and Hearst Connecticut Media as a reporter and editor. More about Douglas Bonjour

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