The San Francisco 49ers had more bad injury luck last season. Early in the year, they saw quarterback Brock Purdy miss time and also lost superstar pass rusher Nick Bosa for the season due to a torn ACL.
As the season moved forward, there were plenty of other key injuries, including Mykel Williams and Fred Warner.
Unfortunately, in the team’s Wild Card playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, the 49ers suffered another massive injury. They saw star tight end George Kittle go down with a torn Achilles.
There has been no firm timeline established for Kittle’s return to the field. However, he has been working hard to be ready for Week 1. He has a chance to accomplish that goal.
That being said, San Francisco could look into adding insurance behind Kittle at the tight end position.
49ers Linked to Potential Move for Veteran Tight End
USA Today’s Tyler Dragon has come up with a possible option for the 49ers. He thinks that Darren Waller would be a good fit behind Kittle in San Francisco.
“Waller exceeded expectations in Mike McDaniel’s systems after the tight end came out of retirement,” Dragon wrote. “His six touchdown receptions were tied for a team-high in Miami last season. McDaniel comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, which would make the transition for Waller easier.”
Dragon continued on, sharing more of his opinion about the potential fit.
“George Kittle ruptured his Achilles during the 2025 playoffs and there’s uncertainty about the tight end’s availability at the start of the regular season. When Kittle is active, the 49ers can utilize both pass-catching threats on the field in 12 personnel packages.”
On the outside looking in, the move would make a lot of sense. The 49ers need to make sure that Purdy has a legitimate weapon at tight end if Kittle isn’t available.
What Would Darren Waller Bring to the 49ers’ Offense?
Last season with the Miami Dolphins, the 33-year-old tight end played well in his return to the NFL. He hadn’t played in the league since the 2023 season with the New York Giants.
Waller ended up playing in nine games for the Dolphins. He caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns.
Granted, those aren’t huge numbers. But, in the role that he played, they were very solid. Waller is still more than capable of being a threat at tight end.
What would it take for San Francisco to sign Waller? Another reason the move could make sense is that he’d likely come cheap.
Spotrac has projected Waller’s market value to be around $3.2 million per season. On a one-year deal, the 49ers would be taking on almost zero risk.
49ers Linked to Veteran Tight End as George Kittle Insurance