On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy expressed optimism that wide receiver Christian Kirk is trending toward making his 49ers debut. That could come as early as Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Another player in the locker room excited about Kirk's potential return is tight end George Kittle, who is eager to see what the veteran receiver can contribute after missing training camp and the start of the 2026 season with a calf injury.
The 49ers opened Kirk's practice window last week but opted not to activate him from injured reserve for Monday night's game against the Washington Commanders. Now, he could be preparing to make his 2026 debut in Week 7.
"Christian Kirk is a really good wide receiver who's played in multiple offenses, and I think he's done a fantastic job," Kittle said after Thursday's practice. "He did a good job last week, and I think he's done a great job this week of knowing what he's had, and doing everything the way that we want to do it."
Kirk's potential return comes at a critical time for the 49ers. Injuries have depleted the team's receiving corps, leaving it short on depth. Mike Evans' availability for Sunday's game is also uncertain as he deals with Achilles tendinitis, which forced him to miss the second half of Monday night's contest.
Despite Kirk's extended absence, Kittle isn't concerned about the receiver getting up to speed with San Francisco's offense.
"Christian Kirk's been in multiple offenses," Kittle said. "He knows what his role is, and I'm pretty sure he's taken reps at multiple positions. He's getting tested by fire, and I think he's doing a really good job of it. Like I said, this week, I feel like he's done everything right, the way that Kyle wants him to do it.
"When you have vets that know what the expectations are, they know what the standard is, then you have guys that are working extra hard to make sure they're in the right place at the right time.
"Christian Kirk just didn't come here to be a body. He came here to make plays, catch the ball, score touchdowns, and convert on third downs. So, I think he's taking advantage of that, and when we call his number, I think he's going to go out there and make the play."
More info on: Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, George Kittle, Brock Purdy
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