HH. BREAKING: GEORGE KITTLE ERUPTS IN LOCKER ROOM AFTER ROOKIE SKIPS PRACTICE TO PARTY

Santa Clara, CA – The San Francisco 49ers are still reeling from their 42–26 humiliation against the Los Angeles Rams, but the fallout inside the locker room has now become even louder than the defeat itself. Multiple team sources confirmed that a rookie defensive back

skipped Wednesday’s recovery session and team walkthrough to go out partying in downtown San Jose.

The incident infuriated veterans across the roster, but no one reacted as strongly as All-Pro tight end George Kittle

, who has long been viewed as one of the emotional leaders and standard-setters of the franchise. According to those present, Kittle “lost it” when he learned a rookie player had chosen nightlife over responsibility the morning after one of the defense’s worst showings of the season.

Team staff said the rookie left the facility Tuesday night, ignored multiple messages from the defensive coaching staff, and was later seen at a nightclub with friends. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, including several injured players, reported early Wednesday morning to begin postgame treatment and review film.

The player at the center of the controversy was later identified as rookie cornerback Derrick Canteen, who played limited snaps against the Rams but was part of a secondary that surrendered more than 430 yards and six touchdown drives.

George Kittle did not hold back when reporters asked about the incident during Thursday’s open locker room period.

“Man, I don’t care if you’re a rookie or a ten-year vet, you don’t party after a loss like that,” Kittle said. “We got embarrassed. We got punched in the mouth for four quarters, and your response is to hit the club? That’s bullshit. If you can’t respect the work, get out of the building.”

Kittle added more, clearly frustrated with the mindset shown:

“This league is hard. Really hard. And if you’re not obsessed with fixing your mistakes, someone else will take your job by tomorrow. Talent doesn’t mean anything if your mentality is soft.”

According to insiders, several defensive veterans also confronted Canteen privately, urging him to take responsibility and prove he belongs in the NFL. The team has not yet announced any discipline, though head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the matter is being handled internally.

“We’re addressing it,” Shanahan said. “We’ll do what’s best for the team.”

Fan reactions have been mixed, disappointment, frustration, and some calling for immediate punishment. But most agree on one thing: in a locker room run by leaders like George Kittle,

Derrick Canteen’s margin for error just became razor thin.

As the 49ers prepare for the next matchup, all eyes will be on whether the rookie responds professionally, or whether this becomes the first major red flag of his young NFL career.

49ers GM John Lynch Announces Important Update on WR Brandon Aiyuk’s Injury Status

Despite playing most of the season without several star players including quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, receiver Ricky Pearsall, and defensive end Nick Bosa, the San Francisco 49ers have a respectable 6-4 record and are just one game behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West division lead.

The injury-ravaged 49ers have been hit particularly hard on offense with injuries to two QBs, a running back, five different WRs, a tight end, and two offensive linemen.

Aside from losing Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to season-ending injuries, the roughest part of the 49ers’ season just may be the fact that WR Brandon Aiyuk still hasn’t played a snap.

The 27-year-old is still recovering from torn ACL and MCL injuries suffered in Week 7 of last season against the Kansas City Chiefs.

49ers general manager John Lynch initially told reporters during the preseason that he expected Aiyuk to be back by Week 7 of the regular season. But days before the team’s Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Lynch dropped a not-so-promising update on the All-Pro wideout.

“That’s not the intention, the intention is to get Brandon back,” Lynch told KNBR when asked if this season would be a redshirt year for Aiyuk. “We’re not there yet, we just got to get him to a place where we’re comfortable opening that window, and see if he can make it back on the field. That is the intention. But we’ll see, no absolutes there.”

Aiyuk has been practicing with the team for weeks, but he reportedly needed more time than the team initially believed for his ACL to fully heal.

When healthy, Aiyuk is arguably one of the NFL’s 10 best wide receivers. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, totaling 75 or more catches and seven or more touchdowns both years.

But without the dynamic receiver, the 49ers’ WR corps leaves much to be desired.

Pearsall, the team’s first-round pick last season, has missed six games due to injuries and logged just 20 catches for 327 yards. Jauan Jennings, who signed a two-year, $15.4 million contract extension during the offseason, has also missed two games with injuries. He has just 28 catches for 324 yards and three touchdowns.

GettySan Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey leads the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns

Though the 49ers lead the NFL in receptions (249) and receiving yards (2,737), the bulk of that production has come from running backs and tight ends.

In fact, 60% of San Francisco’s receptions and 49% of its receiving yards have come from Christian McCaffrey, Kittle, Jake Tonges, Kyle Juszczyk, Luke Farrell, and Brian Robinson Jr. — further emphasizing Aiyuk’s importance to the passing game.

McCaffrey, a running back, leads the team in every receiving category including receptions (69), targets (90), receiving yards (692), and touchdowns (4). The 49ers’ leading WR is Kendrick Bourne (31 catches, 482 yards), and he didn’t join the team until Week 2.

Aside from McCaffrey, the 49ers don’t have a receiver who ranks in the top 35 in the NFL in receiving yards or the top 60 in receptions.