Santa Clara, California – January 2026 — A turbulent season in San Francisco has left more than just playoff disappointment in its wake. Behind the scenes, quiet fractures are forming — and one player who emerged as a surprise contributor to the offense is now preparing for a future that may no longer center on the San Francisco 49ers.
League sources indicate that Jake Tonges, once a breakout revelation at tight end after stepping into George Kittle’s void, has privately begun exploring a potential reset after a sharp shift in availability and on-field impact during the 2025 season.
Entering the year as a depth piece and practice-squad alum with zero career catches prior to 2025, Tonges was not projected as a long-term answer — but his usage when Kittle was sidelined reflected untapped potential in Kyle Shanahan’s tight end-friendly scheme. Early flashes showed promise. What followed did not.
A non-contact foot/leg injury in the Divisional Round against the Seattle Seahawks derailed Tonges just as he had become the offense’s leading receiver in that game. Combined with lingering questions from limited prior snaps, it capped a season where he appeared in key stretches but saw his momentum stall. When active and filling in, the production was solid but tied to Kittle’s absence: 34 receptions, 293 yards, 5 touchdowns — including a strong Divisional outing before the injury forced him out (questionable to return, never came back).
More telling than the box score was the role shift.
Tonges’ snap share and targets surged when Kittle tore his Achilles in the Wild Card round vs. the Eagles (surgery done, expected miss majority or all of 2026 with 9-12 month recovery), leapfrogging blocking specialist Luke Farrell to become the primary pass-catching TE. But as the offense adapted and depth options like Brayden Willis (promoted from practice squad) rotated in, Tonges found himself on the periphery in late-game plans — especially after his own foot injury highlighted durability concerns.
The result: a former unexpected hero now viewed internally as valuable depth rather than the clear direction forward if Kittle returns healthy.
Tonges has not spoken publicly about the situation, but people close to him describe a professional — not emotional — desire for a reset, somewhere he can reestablish a meaningful role as a featured tight end. At just 26 years old, his age remains an asset, but injury questions and production tied to starter absences have altered the calculus.
From the team’s perspective, the 49ers are entering an offseason of necessary reshaping after an injury-plagued 12-5 campaign and Divisional embarrassment. With Kittle’s long-term return uncertain (optimistic timelines suggest mid-2026 at earliest, but full form in doubt at age 33), the team is projected to add talent at tight end via free agency (options like Tyler Higbee or Foster Moreau) or mid-round draft. Tonges is a restricted free agent (RFA) this offseason — the 49ers hold tender rights — but trade/release scenarios (or low tender to expose him) are expected to be discussed if they prioritize veteran depth or if his role diminishes further.
One team source put it plainly: “He’s not making waves. He just sees what’s happening. When your role disappears, you either accept it — or you look for a place where it doesn’t.”
This is not a public breakup, nor a finalized decision. But inside Santa Clara, the evaluation phase has begun.
And for Jake Tonges, the path once glimpsed as a breakout stepping stone in Kyle Shanahan’s offense may now be approaching a quiet, pivotal crossroads.
