George Kittle is officially ready for Week 1. That fact alone sparked a bold roster move for the San Francisco 49ers, setting up their game against the Rams. The Niners waived tight end Brayden Willis on Saturday, making space for long snapper Jon Weeks on the active roster. Willis, a 7th-rounder from ’23 with no regular-season receptions to his name, thankfully went unclaimed on the NFL’s transaction wire. This means the team can snatch him right back onto the practice squad, and he’s expected to practice with the team immediately, having not even left Australia. This move, while seemingly minor, actually screams confidence in Kittle, especially playing in Australia during game week.
Why Willis Is Headed Back To The Practice Squad
Willis showed some real positional versatility during the preseason. He lined up at fullback 15 times, and honestly, the word is he offers way more out of the backfield than as a pure tight end. That’s likely a big part of why he was waived. The plan for Willis seems pretty clear: bring him back to the practice squad and potentially elevate him to the active roster for the upcoming Rams game. This is especially relevant because Kyle Juszczyk, the current starting fullback, recently returned to practice after breaking a finger. Juszczyk is 35 and in the final year of his two-year contract. If Juice can’t perform his usual duties or, heaven forbid, gets hurt again, Willis is the logical backup. It makes you wonder if the 49ers are keeping Willis around with an eye on him taking over for Juszczyk if this really is Juice’s last year as a Niner.
George Kittle’s Week 1 Return Powers Up The Offense
But let’s be real, the unquestionably most important reason for waiving Willis was Kittle’s green light for Week 1. Think about it: the 49ers would never risk waiving a tight end during game week, especially with their opener happening all the way in Australia, if they weren’t absolutely certain Kittle was good to go. They must be incredibly confident in what they’ve seen from him. This is huge because we’re talking about Kittle’s first live action since that Achilles injury in the playoffs. Remember less than a year ago, when Kittle snagged all nine targets from Mac Jones for four first downs, a touchdown, and 84 receiving yards? Not to mention he’s arguably the greatest asset as a blocker in the running game. Whether he’s catching passes against the Rams’ weak link, their linebackers, or just neutralizing their defensive line, Kittle on the field is one of the biggest net positives any team could have. And with Mike Evans and Brock Purdy also on the field? His impact is only going to skyrocket.
What’s Next For The 49ers Offense
The masses might be obsessing over the Rams for the next few days, but the true story here is the full strength of the 49ers’ offense. We’ll be watching closely to see how often the backup tight end duo, Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges, spell Kittle in his return to live action. But make no mistake, Kittle’s presence means the 49ers are heading into Week 1 fully loaded, ready to unleash their full offensive power against the Rams.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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