George Kittle had this game circled.
Nothing was going to slow down the 49ers' star tight end, not even a groin injury he tweaked two days before an NFC West showdown with the Rams in Los Angeles.
“No chance,” Kittle told reporters Sunday after the game. “Like I said, this is a game I had on my calendar for a year. I haven’t liked the way we played against them the last two years. This is a 'dub' we needed to get.”
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The 49ers earned their fifth straight "dub" to stay undefeated at 5-0 behind a dominant defense and a huge game from Kittle in a 20-7 win over the Rams. Kittle finished the day with eight receptions on eight targets for a season-high 103 receiving yards. He sent a message that no injury could stop him with an imposing 46-yard gain early in the second quarter.
Kittle finally was dragged down by four Rams at the 6-yard line. For him, finding yards after the catch by any means is the name of the game.
“You just find space and slash,” Kittle said. “That’s all we talk about, trying to get YAC [yards after catch]. I like YAC, it’s my favorite thing out there. It was just an easy corner route, cut it a little short and just found open space.”
San Francisco 49ers
The third-year pro now has 338 receiving yards on the season and 185 yards after catch. As for his injury, don't expect Kittle to miss any time.
Even against a lowly Washington team in Week 7.
“You kidding me? Come on now,” Kittle said at that notion.
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Kittle proved he's a star last season when he broke the NFL's single-season receiving yards record for a tight end on a four-win 49ers team. San Francisco already has surpassed that win total this year, and Kittle clearly wants more.