Read on Twitter
// Thread \\\\ George Kittle: DynoTE1 or Injury-Riddled Trade Bait?
It’s no mystery that George Kittle is:
1. An absolute beast
2. Fearless on the field
3. Violent as a player
4. Struggling with injuries
Let’s dive in to that #4 & see how much concern there is.
@MyFantasyLeague
It’s no mystery that George Kittle is:
1. An absolute beast
2. Fearless on the field
3. Violent as a player
4. Struggling with injuries
Let’s dive in to that #4 & see how much concern there is.
@MyFantasyLeague
2016 - Right FootSuffered a Right ankle sprain after being tackled & wrapped up. He appeared later on the sideline wearing a boot, but that was a precautionary measure.
Missed two games. No recurrent R ankle/foot injuries.
No long term concern here https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.goiowaawesome.com/iowa-hawkeyes-football/2016/10/609/iowa-hawkeyes-te-george-kittle-leaves-game-with-leg-injury%3famp
2017 - Hamstring(8/1)Missed 1 wk of training camp. Played Wk 1 (95%) snaps without reinjury. Soft tissue injuries occur often in the NFL. If it’s a 1 time occurrence, it’s not concerning. If you see the same injury pop up repeatedly, concern grows
No long term concern here
2017 - Left Ankle (11/5)Missed 1 game after this. He did already have his left ankle wrapped, though I couldn’t find information on a Wk8 or pre-Wk9 injury in practice. I believe this was a low grade sprain that healed.
No long term concern here.
2018 - Separated Right Shoulder (Preseason 1st week). Missed no regular season games.This is the most concerning of the injuries. In January of this year, Kittle revealed that he has played with a torn labrum since 2018. He refuses to have surgery, instead wearing..
..a brace for added stability.
So what are the concerns here?
In a 25 yr follow up study, Hovelius et al revealed that patients aged 23-29 have a 56% re-dislocation recurrence rate.
Kittle was 24 yo at the time of injury. He missed 3 weeks, 0 2018 games. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18451384/
So what are the concerns here?
In a 25 yr follow up study, Hovelius et al revealed that patients aged 23-29 have a 56% re-dislocation recurrence rate.
Kittle was 24 yo at the time of injury. He missed 3 weeks, 0 2018 games. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18451384/
Watson et al discussed that most athletes can return to sport within 2-3 weeks, though with recurrent instability rates ranging from 37-90%. Surgery is considered at end of season if recurrent injury has occurred (Kittle = 0 dislocations since 2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27255423/
Physical therapy emphasizes rotator cuff strength & enhancing stabilization around the torn labrum following a dislocation. The brace is recommended to use for return to play to limit extreme abduction/external rotation, ranges overhead that leave risk for dislocation.
Am I concerned about Kittle’s shoulder?
No. He is now 2 years removed from initial dislocation without any recurrence noted.
2018: 5 drops on 136 tgts (3.7%)
2019: 2 on 107 tgt (1.9%)
2020: 4 on 49 tgt (8.2%)
He also saw 77% snaps+ each week in 2018. & put up NUMBERS.
No. He is now 2 years removed from initial dislocation without any recurrence noted.
2018: 5 drops on 136 tgts (3.7%)
2019: 2 on 107 tgt (1.9%)
2020: 4 on 49 tgt (8.2%)
He also saw 77% snaps+ each week in 2018. & put up NUMBERS.
Every year George Kittle is further away from the initial dislocation without a recurrence, the risk of reinjury reduces.
If he was struggling with recurrent instability & subluxation, shoulder pain, etc then I’d be concerned.
As of now - I’m not.
Are you re: his shoulder?
If he was struggling with recurrent instability & subluxation, shoulder pain, etc then I’d be concerned.
As of now - I’m not.
Are you re: his shoulder?
2019 - Left Knee/Left Ankle (Wk9 v ARI)Kittle suffered a hyperextended Left knee (& reportedly “popped capsule” meaning capsular tear) when Chandler Jones ran into his path, inadvertently hitting Kittle’s knee with his helmet. Kittle also dealt with an avulsion..
@MaioccoNBCS https://twitter.com/maiocconbcs/status/1198823184046276608
..in his left ankle. Hard to say where the avulsion is, but likely either the talus, calcaneus or 5th met. Often not concerning unless the chip (avulsion) is creating impingement (leading to sharp pain, swelling).
He’s lucky the knee injury wasn’t worse. (Repeat in 2020
).
He’s lucky the knee injury wasn’t worse. (Repeat in 2020
).
Long term:
Knee — Minimal concern. He missed 2 games & returned Wk12 to put up 6-129-1 (I was at that game 
) & played 93%+ snaps Wk13-17.
Ankle — Could it have had an influence on this 2020 cuboid fracture? Unlikely, but possible.
Still, low concern re: the avulsion.
Knee — Minimal concern. He missed 2 games & returned Wk12 to put up 6-129-1 (I was at that game ) & played 93%+ snaps Wk13-17.Ankle — Could it have had an influence on this 2020 cuboid fracture? Unlikely, but possible.Still, low concern re: the avulsion.
2020 - Left Knee (Wk1)Now... with this one, watching it live I immediately thought back to the ‘19 ARI game. I thought for sure this one would cost Kittle 4-6 games.
Well, since missing Wks2-3, he’s played: 99%, 100%, 97%, 91%, & 66% (due to injury).
Wk4? 15-183-1
Solid evidence that whenever he does return, he’ll have a monster game.
He had not been limited in routes or snaps since returning.
Long term concern: Minimal. Slight increase only due to prior Hx of Left Knee hyperextension.
Also - get Jimmy G out of SF.
He had not been limited in routes or snaps since returning.
Long term concern: Minimal. Slight increase only due to prior Hx of Left Knee hyperextension.
Also - get Jimmy G out of SF.
2020 - Left Foot (Wk8)OK..the Left foot has me concerned at this point. This marks the 3rd injury to his Left Foot/Ankle now. The previous two (sprain & small avulsion) I believe are minor. This cuboid fracture injury is extremely rare (see thread attached), but it can heal.. https://twitter.com/jmthrivept/status/1324086530298707972
..with conservative management. I believe this specific injury will have minimal long term concerns.
BUT what I want to see is Kittle sit out & let it heal, versus rushing back like he typically wants to do. His long term health needs to be above his short term desire to play..
BUT what I want to see is Kittle sit out & let it heal, versus rushing back like he typically wants to do. His long term health needs to be above his short term desire to play..
I believe the 49ers staff will be conservative on this injury & keep Kittle out for an extended period of time so he heals to 100% & gets to that 6-8 week mark where his reinjury risk is minimal.
Very rare traumatic injury. This DOES NOT make Kittle “injury prone” (not a thing).
Very rare traumatic injury. This DOES NOT make Kittle “injury prone” (not a thing).
UsageUp to this point since 2017, Kittle has missed 5 games total —
2020: 2 (now likely +6-8 or so)
2019: 2
2018: 0
2017: 1
His snap rate has been incredible —
2020: 5+ gm of 90%+, 4 of 95%+
2019: 11 80%+, 9 90%+, 6 95%+
2018: 12 80%+, 9 90%+, 4 95%+
Several at 100% snaps.
The only TEs who come close to Kittle’s snap counts over the last 3 years are Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, and Darren Waller.
Kelce is the ONLY TE to have more 90%+ snap% games than Kittle over the past 3 years.
Hard to keep Kittle off the field on all downs. https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/george-kittles-receiving-blocking-mastery-49ers-shown-one-stat
Kelce is the ONLY TE to have more 90%+ snap% games than Kittle over the past 3 years.
Hard to keep Kittle off the field on all downs. https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/george-kittles-receiving-blocking-mastery-49ers-shown-one-stat
Long Term ConcernRight Shoulder: Low concern for me given ZERO recurrences. I am monitoring to see if he ever gets surgery or not. He might not need to.Left Ankle/Foot: 3 injuries now to this body part. Still low long term concern, but something to monitor.(1/ )
Play Style: His play style is more concerning to me than any injury he’s sustained. Those will/have healed. He’s violent. He doesn’t give a crap. He beats people up. When you play like that, you put yourself at more risk. But..HE’S NOT INJURY PRONE.
What am I doing in Dyno?Hold.
Kittle’s PPR fppg average over the past 3 years: 16.2 (3rd), 15.9 (T-1st), 16.4 (2nd).
His replaceable value is nearly impossible to find outside of Travis Kelce. If you have Kittle in Dyno, I want a solid backup to survive any future injury..
..but the concern on his past/current injuries for his future is LOW.
Do not panic sell! In fact - find the owner who is panic selling & take advantage. Give me Kittle for 12 games a year minimum over anyone not named Travis Kelce. Just have a solid backup stashed.
Do not panic sell! In fact - find the owner who is panic selling & take advantage. Give me Kittle for 12 games a year minimum over anyone not named Travis Kelce. Just have a solid backup stashed.
if you made it this far, I want to thank you & I appreciate your support! 
Retweet this thing because there are a lot of people making panic moves. And I think that’s unnecessary. Hold Kittle (unless you get a massive offer).
Appreciate you all! RT the first slide
