The 49ers are looking to move to 3-0 when they welcome the Cardinals to Santa Clara on Sunday.
Although their pass-catching corps is, once again, experiencing a ton of injuries, Brock Purdy and George Kittle apparently re-established their strong connection last weekend, setting the star tight end up for another big game in Week 3.
After easing in with a snap count in their season opener against the Rams in Australia, Kittle broke out against the lowly Dolphins in Week 2, hauling in four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
They’re going to need more of that this Sunday, with San Francisco’s wide receiver room getting even thinner.
Demarcus Robinson suffered a high-ankle sprain against Miami and is likely headed to injured reserve, while Mike Evans also exited with a hip injury and will have to be managed throughout the week.
Robinson is out for this clash, while Evans is questionable.
That comes with Ricky Pearsall still sidelined by a knee injury and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling already on injured reserve with an ankle injury, leaving Purdy short on proven options on the outside.
Fortunately for the Niners, Purdy has been sharp through the first two weeks, and his ability to keep the offense moving despite the injuries is an encouraging sign for Kittle’s outlook.
With so many receivers unavailable or banged up, it’s likely Purdy will lean even more heavily on his longtime security blanket, especially after Kittle showed last week that he’s ready for a larger workload.
Betting on the NFL?
The Cardinals’ defense came back to earth last week, allowing the Seahawks to score 31 points and rack up 381 total yards with Drew Lock behind center.
Purdy and Co. should have an even easier time, and Kittle is one of the last men standing to benefit.
The play: George Kittle Over 4.5 receptions (+126, DraftKings)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
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