The San Francisco 49ers will be without a key member of their offense as they gear up for the new season.
The Niners will head into the upcoming campaign without a slew of their veterans after parting ways with a number of stars this offseason, including the likes of Deebo Samuel, as they committed their focus to new contracts for other players.
However, they could find themselves without one of the stars who remained in the Bay Area amid ongoing negotiations.
Tight end George Kittle will not participate in voluntary workouts, beginning Tuesday, amid his ongoing contract negotiations, Ian Rapoport confirmed.
Kittle is heading into the final year of his deal and he and the franchise are said to remain ‘far apart’ in negotiations.
And as both sides reportedly fail to inch closer to an agreement on an extension, Kittle is said to be the biggest hold out for the voluntary program.
George Kittle could be the 49ers biggest hold out heading into voluntary workouts
The tight end, pictured with wife Claire, is heading into the final year of his current deal
Quarterback Brock Purdy could also be a doubt amid his own ongoing contract negotiations
The 31-year-old inked a five-year, $75-million deal in August 2020 and is said to now be looking to lock up long-term security.
Kittle has made the Pro Bowl in the past four seasons and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2023.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and linebacker Fred Warner’s availability for voluntary workouts had also been in doubt amid their own negotiations, according to The Athletic.
However, Purdy, who has enjoyed a fairytale NFL career in San Francisco going from Mr. Irrelevant to a Pro Bowl quarterback, arrived with the team for voluntary offseason conditioning Tuesday.
Both parties are believed to have made progress on a multi-year extension for the 25-year-old, which could reportedly make him one of the ten highest-paid players under center.
It’s believed that if the former seventh-round pick does in fact attend voluntary workouts, it could be a sign of said progress.
Meanwhile, Warner is approaching the penultimate season of his current contract with a cap hit of $29.174 million for 2025.
His camp and the Niners organization have yet to hold any ‘substantive’ talks over an extension, according to the report.
However, unlike Kittle, he is expected to attend voluntary workouts regardless of his status.
The veteran signed a five-year, $95 million extension in 2021, and he has made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro three times since.
