Coming off last week’s 49ers drubbing at the hands of the Rams, and with Brock Purdy finally returning to the fold after missing six games with a toe injury, it seemed about time for the team to reset and get right. There are few players the team can more reliably turn to when a get-right game is needed than tight end George Kittle, the ninth-year star who remains one of the best-liked players in the current 49ers era.
Kittle has had his own injury struggles this season, but after catching nine balls, including one touchdown, in Week 10, the hope was that he was geared up for a big second half of the season. He certainly came through in Week 11, putting up 67 yards on six catches with two touchdowns as the 49ers blew out the Cardinals, 41-22.
The 49ers are now 7-4, with a relatively soft three-game stretch and a much-needed bye week ahead.
### Brock Purdy, George Kittle Connect for 2 49ers TDs
Along the way to the 49ers’ Week 11 win, Kittle found his way into the team’s record book. He joined Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice as the only three players in franchise history to record 500 catches and 50 touchdowns.
Kittle then made franchise history again with his second touchdown of the game — the 23rd of his career with Purdy as his quarterback. This milestone moved him and Purdy past Steve Young and Brent Jones for the most quarterback–tight end touchdowns in franchise history.
### Brock Purdy ‘In Rhythm’ for 49ers
Kittle’s first touchdown came in the first quarter: a 30-yard pass from Purdy with 9:51 to play, putting the 49ers ahead 14-0. The play was part of a five-play, 70-yard drive that followed a 98-yard kickoff return from Skyy Moore. The return set up a 1-yard touchdown drive to open the offensive spurt for the 49ers.
But it was the second drive where Purdy truly found his rhythm.
“It felt good to get into a rhythm for sure,” Purdy said. “Just to hit the guys and have some big gains, and to hit that one, it was like, we’re playing, we’re in an NFL game. Put a good throw onto George and he completes it. It was good for my confidence and everything.
“Outside of that, it’s football, I’ve been here before. Just trying to settle back into who I am and how I play quarterback.”
### George Kittle: ‘He Has His Swagger’
Kittle was appreciative of Purdy’s quick-strike ability. Purdy threw for 200 yards on just 19-for-26 passing, with three touchdowns and a 133.5 passer rating.
While the 49ers held their own with backup Mac Jones under center, Jones cannot throw the deep balls nearly as well as Purdy. In fact, in the two games Purdy has played, he was 7-for-9 on deep passes (20 or more yards), whereas Jones was 5-for-20 in eight games.
Kittle said having Purdy back was noticeable.
“Brock’s presence in the huddle is so elite,” Kittle said. “How he talks to the players, how he talks—he plays the game with this joy that is so infectious. And it’s so much fun to play football with him. Especially, what, five minutes into the game, he hits me down the field with a perfect pass. He was just like feeling it.
“I think he has his confidence, he has his swagger. More people were celebrating with Brock after his touchdown pass with me. I was a little jealous.”
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