As the San Francisco 49ers gear up for their Week 10 divisional showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, star tight end George Kittle has made his stance clear—he’s confident in his team’s direction despite growing criticism following the NFL trade deadline. While many expected the 49ers to make a splash move to bolster their injury-plagued roster, the front office chose to stay put, a decision that drew mixed reactions from fans.
49ers Stand Firm Despite Injury Woes
The 49ers have faced one of the toughest injury spells of the 2025 season. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, two cornerstones of the defense, are out for the remainder of the year. Offensively, Brock Purdy continues to deal with a nagging turf toe injury, while the receiving corps has been repeatedly hit by health setbacks.
Despite these challenges, San Francisco still stands at 6-3, firmly in the playoff race in a competitive NFC West that includes both the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams at 6-2. Many believed the 49ers would pursue a trade to strengthen their depleted lineup, but general manager John Lynch revealed that the market simply wasn’t favorable.
High asking prices discouraged the team from making a costly move, especially after seeing other franchises like the Dallas Cowboys part with premium draft picks for talent.
George Kittle backs the team’s approach
Addressing the team’s quiet trade deadline, George Kittle defended the organization’s decision to resist the urge for a blockbuster move.
“Honestly, I haven’t heard a single thing about it in the locker room,” Kittle told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I don’t think guys were really expecting us to do anything. … People are expecting you to play fantasy football out here, or you’re like playing Madden. One trade could completely handicap you for the next several years. Unless it was a perfect thing then like why would you do it?”
The veteran tight end referenced the 2022 trade for Christian McCaffrey, which transformed the offense, but emphasized that not every opportunity is worth the risk.
“Unless it was a perfect trade where we’re not giving up too much to get someone, then you know, don’t do it. I’m okay with that,” George Kittle added.
Focused on the bigger picture
George Kittle dismissed any notion that standing pat signaled the team giving up on the season. Instead, he expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to rebound and continue competing at a high level.
“Me personally, it doesn’t feel like we’re giving up on the season. We’re 6-3. We have a bunch of reinforcements coming back on offense soon,” he said. “We’re 6-3 without Brock Purdy basically playing the entire season. I think people forget how good he is because Mac Jones is playing so well. People forget why we paid him money.”
“Ricky Pearsall is coming back. Hopefully at some point Brandon Aiyuk is coming back. I still think we have an offense that can score 30 to 40 points a game. If you have an offense that can score that much, you’re gonna win a lot of football games.”
As San Francisco prepares for a high-stakes clash against the Rams, George Kittle’s comments reflect a locker room unified in purpose.