TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant owe him big time"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections 49ers Salary CapLevi’s Stadium Events49ers Transactions49ers Injury News49ers Press Conferences & Conference Calls2019 NFL Draft: 49ers picks Arik Armstead Jersey , mock drafts, news, rumors, analysisGeorge Kittle made his Iowa teammates some moneyNew,18commentsTJ Hockenson and Noah Fant owe him big timePDTShareTweetShareShareGeorge Kittle made his Iowa teammates some moneyJesse Johnson-USA TODAY SportsPeople are calling Iowa “Tight End University,” since T. J. Hockenson and Noah Fant were both drafted in the first twenty picks during the first-round of the NFL Draft. But those guys really owe George Kittle big time for their first-round salaries. Nobody was thinking about Iowa TEs two years ago.Sure, there have been several Iowa tight ends drafted over the years, and Dallas Clark was a very good one for 11 years. But he’s really the only big success in this century. Scott Chandler took years to get on a roster before having four solid years with the Bills. Brandon Myers had two good years (and six weak ones). Tony Moeaki faded fast, C.J. Fiederowicz had one good year, and Tony Jackson never even saw the field.So there is a reason that John Lynch was able to sneak off with Kittle for just a fifth round pick. Sure, his injury helped. There’s also the fact that Iowa never throws the ball, so Kittle’s tape was mostly just run plays.He was seen as blocking TE, a position not valued much in the league.Kittle rewrote the whole concept of tight end. Forget blocking tight ends and move tight ends; you need to be both. As wide receivers get taller, move tight ends who can’t block are just slow receivers. Also: Kittle isn’t slow. So when both of his successors had strong seasons this year, NFL scouts were ready to pounce. Great for Hockenson and Fant, but not much use to Kittle, who’s still playing on a 5th round rookie contract.He’ll make $720,000 next year. Based on last year’s deals, Fant should make more than $2 million, and Hockenson twice that. And there’s almost no chance they’ll be as successful as Kittle.They owe him big time.Jimmie Ward is late addition to 49ers injury report The San Francisco 49ers released their Week 5 final injury report, and there is a notable Friday addition. Cornerback Jimmie Ward suffered a hamstring injury late in the week and is now listed as questionable for Sunday.This is a big addition to the report given the uncertain status of cornerback Richard Sherman heading into the weekend. He was a DNP on Wednesday, but got in limited work on Thursday and Friday, and is listed as questionable for Sunday. The plan heading into the week seemed to be that he would miss the week, but he’s been getting at it for Sunday’s game. I would not be surprised if he sits out, but it might come down to how he looks in pre-game warmups.The secondary will be a bit healthier otherwise. Adrian Colbert and Jaquiski Tartt were both full participants all week Y.A. Tittle Jersey , and did not show up on the final injury report. They will be at the two safety positions, with some combination of Richard Sherman, Jimmie Ward, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Greg Mabin playing the outside corner positions.The best news of the day was Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, and Weston Richburg were all full participants in practice. They are listed as questionable, but if they feel good Sunday morning, it’s hard to see any of them sitting.49ers injury reportOut: WR Dante Pettis (knee)Questionable: RB Matt Breida (shoulder), WR Marquise Goodwin (hamstring, quadricep), T Mike McGlinchey (knee), C Weston Richburg (knee), CB Richard Sherman (calf), T Joe Staley (knee), CB Jimmie Ward (hamstring)Cardinals injury reportQuestionable: CB Bene’ Benwikere (neck), WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring, back), DE Markus Golden (knee), DT Robert Nkemdiche (foot), DT Corey Peters (elbow), CB Jamar Taylor (back, hamstring), T John Wetzel (shoulder)
