The Green Bay Packers must prepare this week for the return of one of the most important players in the San Francisco 49ers’ talented offense on Sunday. Tight end George Kittle, who missed last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, is confident he’ll be good to go for Sunday’s trip to Lambeau Field.

“I’m going to play Sunday,” Kittle said after Wednesday’s practice, via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “Very pleased. I can’t miss the Packers game, so no, I’ll be there for sure.”

Kittle had a limited participation in Wednesday’s practice. He said he didn’t lack confidence in his hamstring to play last Sunday and didn’t want to push it after the hamstring “didn’t feel great on Saturday” but isn’t worried about this week. The 49ers will provide a game status designation on the final injury report on Friday.

Kittle not only leads the NFL in touchdown receptions by a tight end with seven, but he is one of the best blocking tight ends in football. He is a vital part of how the 49ers operate in both the passing and running games.

According to Next Gen Stats, the 49ers are averaging 5.5 yards per rush with Kittle on the field and just 3.5 yards per rush when he’s not.

And it’s no wonder he wants to play the Packers — the 49ers are 5-5 and in desperate need of a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and in four of Kittle’s last five games against the Packers, he’s gotten the less than 80 receiving yards or a touchdown. , including a touchdown catch in last year’s postseason.

Can the Packers, with a new group of safeties led by Xavier McKinney, do a better job of containing Kittle if he plays Sunday? Kittle enjoyed Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens in the January playoff game, but McKinney and rookie Evan Williams were excellent at safety in 2024.

Kittle is a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro. Through eight games, he has 43 catches for 560 yards and seven scores. He has a touchdown in six of eight games.