Kyle Shanahan Explains Why George Kittle's Stats are Down

Why does Kittle keep disappearing from the 49ers passing game? Is he not getting open? Has he begun to decline?

The 49ers pay George Kittle an average of $15 million per season, and he had one catch for one yard last week.

What in the world is going on?

A couple weeks ago, he caught three passes and scored three touchdowns against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, so clearly still can play. But the week before that, he caught just one pass for nine yards against the Vikings.

Why does Kittle keep disappearing from the 49ers passing game? Is he not getting open? Has he begun to decline?

"George has been doing a good job," Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday. "He has been banged up a little bit a couple times -- sometimes that limits him, especially during the week where he has done a good job just getting out there ready for the game. In all of his opportunities versus Dallas, he did a hell of a job. He didn't get many in this past game -- not many guys did. Just goes that way sometimes. George does a lot in our run game, does a lot in our pass game. Sometimes George's opportunities get cut in half because when running backs run routes, someone has to block, which receivers aren't an option on that. So sometimes it's George, and he's really good at it. That limits him also."

Translation: Christian McCaffrey is such a good receiver, the 49ers would rather make George Kittle block than McCaffrey block. Makes sense. But McCaffrey missed the second half against the Browns, and Kittle still didn't get the ball.

I'm guessing Shanahan has at least 50 plays in his playbook in which Kittle is the primary receiver. Maybe Shanahan should call some of those this Monday night against the Vikings. Just a thought.