George Kittle's Ankle Injury Raises Concerns Ahead of 49ers' Crucial Game Against Bears

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San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle sat out Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury sustained during Monday's 48-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The injury casts a shadow over his potential participation in the upcoming game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. If Kittle is unable to recover in time, it would be a significant blow to the 49ers' offense, which has been on a five-game winning streak and has not punted in back-to-back games for the first time in franchise history. The 49ers have already secured a playoff spot and can secure the top seed in the NFC by winning their final two games, including the game against the Bears. Meanwhile, receiver Ricky Pearsall returned to practice on a limited basis after missing last week's game with a knee injury. However, the team received some positive news as Pearsall has made significant progress in his recovery, having missed six games earlier in the season. Kittle's absence would be particularly felt in the run and pass game, as he has been a key contributor to the team's success. In the current winning streak, Kittle has 31 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns. He is also second on the team in catches and yards, despite missing five games earlier in the season. The 49ers' passer rating when targeting Kittle this season is 144.6, the highest for any player with at least 50 targets since Russell Wilson achieved a 158.3 rating targeting Tyler Lockett in 2018. Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos took a scheduled day off to rest his sore knee, while cornerback Renardo Green was limited in practice after missing last week's game with a neck injury.