"I've been dealing with s--- since Week 1, excuse my language," Kittle told reporters after Sunday's heartbreaking 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. "It's football. You just deal with it. And I'll just say it was a lower-body injury, the NHL life."
Most players will admit that everyone is dealing with something by the end of the long 17-game season. Those teams in the playoffs push through pain and discomfort for a chance to play on sports' biggest stage—the Super Bowl. The 49ers were among the last four teams left in contention until Sunday.
Entering as a Wild Card, San Francisco defied the odds and upset a couple of division winners—the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers—on the way to the NFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, Kittle wasn't the only one dealing with discomfort.
Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers' polarizing quarterback, fought through a torn ligament in his right thumb, suffered in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans. He wanted to keep his team's run alive. After all, it was probably his last run with this locker room. Every throw was painful, though.
"I can't believe this s--- held up, to be completely honest with you," Garoppolo admitted to Michael Silver of Bally Sports after the game. "The thumb, the shoulder … all of it. It was one thing after another. … Every time I threw. It was a lot."
Trent Williams, the anchor of the offensive line, fought through a high-ankle sprain. Before this season, he had never won a playoff game. This season, Williams found himself on the doorstep of a Super Bowl.
"It was really difficult, yeah," Williams responded when asked how challenging it was to play through the injury. "It was a lot to deal with, but I just couldn't imagine missing this game. So I just tried to do everything I could."
Williams shouldn't need offseason surgery, so long as he didn't do further damage to his ankle during the game.
"Hopefully, I didn't make it any worse," Williams said. "Hopefully, it will just be something that will probably take about a month off to have to heal, so I don't have any lingering issues. But it's football."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch reveals where the 49ers stand on George Kittle's contract
George Kittle is eager to be a Niner for life, and the San Francisco 49ers share that sentiment. Earlier this month, the All-Pro tight end revealed that he believes discussions about a potential contract extension between the team and his agent have occurred. "Waiting on... -
Top TE prospect Tyler Warren talks glowingly of George Kittle, 49ers 'fun scheme'
The San Francisco 49ers have the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a spot that—if you've been keeping track of endless speculation—has the team likely taking one of several top offensive linemen or defensive linemen expected to be available there. A choice... -
Schefter: 49ers QB Brock Purdy's extension might not cost as much as most expect
The debate over how much the San Francisco 49ers should pay quarterback Brock Purdy is heating up this offseason. Some believe the 25-year-old will seek top-of-the-market money, while others argue he's worth significantly less. Most analysts agree that Purdy's next contract... -
Former NFL player explains how 49ers could benefit from paying Brock Purdy $54M annually
The Athletic's Dianna Russini and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel discussed Brock Purdy on the Scoop City podcast, examining what his next contract might look like. The San Francisco 49ers are expected to extend their young quarterback, and many believe he will soon rank...