Beating the 49ers on Sunday just got a little tougher for the Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers will be welcoming back tight end George Kittle to the field when they take on the Arizona Cardinals this weekend.

In their first meeting with the San Francisco 49ers this season back in Week 5, the Arizona Cardinals took on a team that was without several of their top contributors.

On Sunday, the 49ers team that the Cardinals will be facing is going to look much different than what they trotted out onto the field in Week 5.

Not only will San Francisco have quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo starting under center, but All-Pro tight end George Kittle will be back on the field in a 49ers uniform for the first time since Week 4.

Will the Arizona Cardinals be able to stop San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle?

Kittle wasn’t active for Arizona’s first matchup against San Francisco this year, but he was in the lineup during both of the Cardinals’ showdowns with the 49ers last season.

In those two contests, the San Francisco tight end caught a total of eight passes and averaged 68 yards per matchup. Arizona was able to keep Kittle out of the end zone in both of their meetings in 2020 though.

While Kittle will be one of the tougher tight ends the Cardinals will face this season (if not the toughest), Arizona is arguably the best in the NFL when it comes to shutting down tight ends this year.

In their seven games this season, opposing tight ends against the Cardinals have only accumulated 28 catches (fifth-fewest in the league), 225 yards (second-fewest), and no touchdowns (fewest).

So yes, containing Kittle on Sunday is not going to be easy for Arizona. However, the Cardinals have already proven this season that they are more than up to the task.