The San Francisco 49ers are planning to play without star tight end George Kittle in a key NFC game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night at Santa Clara, Calif.
ESPN reported Kittle, who has been fighting an ankle injury, is not expected to play, while NFL Network said he will work out before the game starts but is doubtful.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, listed as questionable because of knee and ankle injuries, likely will play, per ESPN.
Kittle, twice a first-team All-Pro selection, has played in just 10 games this season due to injuries. He has 52 catches for 599 yards and seven touchdown receptions.
The 32-year-old has 590 career catches for 7,979 yards and 52 touchdown receptions in 123 career games (115 starts).
Pearsall, 25, has played just eight games (all starts) this season with 31 catches for 443 yards. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie last season, with 31 catches, 400 yards and three scores.
San Francisco and Chicago both enter the game Sunday night with 11-4 records, and both still are alive to earn the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC.
The 49ers must win their next two games (Bears, Seattle Seahawks) and the Bears need to win their next two (49ers, Lions) and have Seattle lose once to earn the top seed.
