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When it comes to supporting his teammates, George Kittle doesn't play favorites. As the San Francisco 49ers faced the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, the injured tight end showed his support from home-wearing one of his teammates' jerseys, though not the one fans expected.
Kittle was sidelined after suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The star tight end underwent surgery to repair the injury and will miss the remainder of the postseason. His spot against Seattle was filled by Brayden Willis.
Although Kittle couldn't attend the game while recovering, he still found a way to cheer on his team, wearing kicker Eddy Piñeiro's jersey.
Kittle's unexpected jersey choice
The nine-year veteran is known for his outgoing personality and ability to connect with teammates across the roster. Still, it's more common for players to show support for fellow members of their unit.
That's why fans assumed Kittle would wear quarterback Brock Purdy's or running back Christian McCaffrey's jersey, two of the team's biggest stars.
Instead, Kittle opted for Piñeiro's jersey, as revealed by his wife, Claire, in photos she shared on Instagram Stories hours before kickoff.
"Happy divisional gameday!" Claire captioned one photo, showing George in Piñeiro's jersey while she wore a 49ers crop top. "We'll be cheering our asses off from the couch."
Fans react to Kittle's absence
While the Kittles watched the game from home, Niners' fans quickly reacted to the images. "Damn, hate to see Kittle out," one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, "Wish you played instead."
Others expressed their appreciation: "The Niners Nation loves Claire Kittle and George Kittle." Many also sent well wishes, including one fan who wrote, "Get healthy AF."
Unfortunately for San Francisco, the team fell short and was eliminated in the divisional round.