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 with 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 attempt to cut up field, his right leg appeared to give way before Eagles linebacker Zack Baun tackled him. Kittle stayed down after Baun took him down with Niners medical staff rushing to the Philadelphia sideline to check on him.
A couple of minutes later, the medical 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.
