49ers activate Kittle, move Mostert, Mullens to IR

The San Francisco 49ers will get some much-needed help when they take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. The Niners have officially activated tight end George Kittle from the IR.

Kittle has missed the last six games after fracturing a bone in his foot during the Week 8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 27-year-old has 37 receptions for 474 yards and two touchdowns in six games this season.

Quarterback C.J. Beathard — who is making his first start in more than two years — will be thrilled to have the tight end back in the lineup. Beathard and Kittle were both drafted in 2017 and have connected for 36 receptions, which have resulted in 518 yards and two touchdowns.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan will monitor Kittle’s snaps because he has missed nearly two full months of action.

“He’s probably one of the healthiest guys we have right now, the freshest,” Shanahan said. “He had two good weeks of practice, and he feels great after it. We wouldn’t put him out at all if there was any risk of re-injuring this or he wasn’t healed.”

The 49ers also activated offensive lineman Colton McKivitz from the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning he will be ready to go tomorrow.

Here are the other moves the Niners made ahead of the game against the Cardinals:

Defensive lineman Darrion Daniels was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. Receiver Jordan Howard and cornerback Tim Harris were also activated from the practice squad. While Tight end Daniel Helm and defensive lineman were activated from the as COVID-19 replacements.

San Francisco will be without defensive lineman Kevin Givens, who has been ruled OUT. The team said Givens’ absence isn’t injury-related.

The 49ers moved Raheem Mostert and Nick Mullens to the IR, meaning both players will miss the final two games. The secondary will be shorthanded against Arizona as well, with Richard Sherman (calf) and Jimmie Ward (concussion) officially OUT for Saturday’s matchup.