For years, the San Francisco 49ers have looked for a complement to George Kittle.
After his breakout season in 2018, they tried Ross Dwelley as the No. 2 option. Then, they brought in Jordan Reed in 2020 after Kittle got hurt, while also drafting Charlie Woerner.
After Woerner departed last offseason, they signed Eric Saubert to a one-year deal. Yet, none of those moves seemed to stick, as San Francisco didn’t find the complement they wanted, both as a blocker and as a pass-catcher.
San Francisco absolutely
needs a quality blocker from that TE2 role, which is what Woerner was when on the team. That’s why they signed Luke Farrell to a three-year deal this offseason. But, amid Kittle’s absence this season, it hasn’t been Farrell who has stood out. Instead, it’s Jake Tonges, who made the roster as a big surprise in 2024.
Through five games, Tonges is fourth on the team in receiving, having caught 19 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. His 27 targets trail only Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall, while his touchdowns are tied for first on the team.
After having zero catches through his first three seasons in the NFL, it feels like Tonges has just come out of nowhere.
“Jake’s given us a lot of confidence,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said about Tonges. “Him just coming into this role out of nowhere versus Seattle and finishing the game that way and then just each week he’s been thrown in a lot of situations he hasn’t been in before and I think he’s rose to the occasion on all of them.
“Some of the catches you guys have seen him make, how much better I think he’s getting in the run game. Some of the hits he’s taken in a couple of these games where I’ve thought we’ve lost him. It happened early, I think on the first drive versus Jacksonville, and it happened later in the game versus the Rams, and for him to get back right out there, and I think he only missed a couple plays, and to keep going. I’ve been really impressed with Jake, and that’s why he is earning a role in a lot of ways.”
Tonges was initially an undrafted free agent for the Chicago Bears, but came to the 49ers last offseason and cracked the 53-man roster after impressing in training camp. Now, in his age-26 season, he’s seeing his biggest role yet.
George Kittle is expected to return next week after not having his practice window opened this week, but Tonges has proven he can take on a secondary role and be the No. 2 tight end. He’ll likely rotate with Luke Farrell, but a more capable pass-catcher lifts off some of the responsibility from Kittle’s shoulders as he comes back from injury.
