Until he marked National Tight Ends Day with an historic effort in the San Francisco 49ers' win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, it had gotten somewhat lost in the shuffle that George Kittle is enjoying an excellent season.
The two-time first-team All-Pro has found the endzone in all but two games this season, and with 503 receiving yards is comfortably on pace to surpass 1,000 for the fourth time in his outstanding career.
Kittle's focus is not on individual records, but more interesting than this receiving yards tally is that he is tied for second in receiving touchdowns, his six scores trailing only Ja'Marr Chase (7).
No tight end has ended the season leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns since Jimmy Graham did so in 2023.
Yet the conditions for Kittle potentially doing so in 2024 are set to improve.
Kittle has an outstanding rapport with quarterback Brock Purdy and has become an even greater focal point in the offense in the wake of Brandon Aiyuk's season-ending injury.
His touchdown tally would likely be higher if not for the 49ers' struggles inside the red zone, which have seen them go from the first-ranked offense by touchdown efficiency inside the 20-yard line last year to 27th heading into Week 9 of this season.
But the 49ers improved in that area last week, going three four in the red zone, and will carry a more diverse offensive threat when they return from their bye in Week 10.
Running back Christian McCaffrey was crucial to the 49ers having the best red zone offense in the league last season, and San Francisco is poised to open the reigning Offensive Player of the Year's practice window next week with a view to him making his season debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McCaffrey is obviously a huge threat to score in the red zone on his own both as a rusher and as a receiver out of the backfield and in the formation, but his impact on the passing game and, in turn, influence on coverages, is critical in opening up space in the congested area for other weapons.
On top of that, McCaffrey's presence figures to improve the 49ers' play-action threat inside the 20.
Last season, the 49ers threw eight touchdowns on 21 attempts involving play-action in the red zone. So far this year, they have only one touchdown on seven attempts.
Kittle projects to be a direct beneficiary of McCaffrey's gravity and of the potential for increased manipulation of linebackers with play-fakes that haven't been as big a part of the 49er offense as usual.
Of course, Kittle will have plenty of competition for red zone targets and plenty of competition in the race to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns, but McCaffrey's prospective return improves the odds of him emulating Graham and becoming the first 49er at any position to achieve that feat since tight end Vernon Davis in 2009.
