Bhan-BREAKING NEWS: Kyle Shanahan Just Solved His Offensive Puzzle — 49ers Secure the Reliable No. 2 Tight End They’ve Been Missing. 💪🏼✨Insiders say the move could quietly transform San Francisco’s entire red-zone game plan.
San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams – NFL 2025 | Harry How/GettyImages
The injury crisis affecting the 49ers has especially been prevalent on offense, but with crisis comes opportunity, and it’s not only quarterback Mac Jones seizing it with both hands.
Jake Tonges was not meant to be this important to San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s system.
It was considered much more likely the undrafted tight end out of California was just going to be a training camp body and an afterthought in the minds of fans.
But when the injury bug once again cursed the Niners, and specifically All-Pro George Kittle in this circumstance, Tonges immediately stepped up with a big game in Week 1, which included the game-winning reception when he got in front of the defender with one of the most clutch receptions seen in the NFL this season:
Jake Tonges had never caught a pass in the NFL before today.
He has three today. Including this one 🙌 pic.twitter.com/g1xMS2UXub
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
For the season so far, Tonges has 19 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns, which includes 10 receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the previous two games. The surprise emergence of Tonges as a reliable intermediate target has been instrumental for San Francisco weathering the injury storm on a way to a 4-1 record, especially with the lack of running game.
Read More: Early NFC West victories could pay off in spades for 49ers by season’s end
Tonges has taken the long road to get onto the field. He joined the Chicago Bears after going undrafted but was quickly waived before joining the 49ers in 2023. He didn’t record a catch with either the Bears or the Niners, being mostly on the practice squad for the teams before this season.
With crisis comes opportunity, however, and Tonges has literally held onto his with both hands.
Shanahan is a coach who loves to play multiple tight ends on the field but has nevertheless struggled to find a true No. 2 option behind Kittle.
The 49ers haven’t had a chance to put together some plays with both Kittle and Tonges on the field at the same time, but it’ll be interesting to see how Shanahan and the Niners deploy them together when Kittle does get back onto the field soon.
