Kittle carted off with Achilles injury in 49ers’ game at Eagles

PHILADELPHIA — George Kittle was carted off Lincoln Financial Field after injuring his right Achilles in the second quarter of the 49ers’ game Sunday against the Eagles.

Kittle’s injury came when he was tackled by safety Marcus Epps on a 6-yard catch that opened the 49ers’ fourth series, right after they fell behind 13-7.

Teammates Christian McCaffrey and Kyle Juszczyk immediately arrived at Kittle’s side and a couple of Eagles defenders took a knee, signaling a significant injury.

That Kittle catch, at the 49ers’ 29-yard line, was his only reception of the game. He was ruled out for the game shortly after the 49ers’ drive ended.

The disheartening sight of Kittle getting carted off was followed by a 45-yard reception from Jauan Jennings, then three Christian McCaffrey runs that gained just nine yards. Eddy Piñeiro’s 36-yard field goal pulled the 49ers within 13-10 with 2:50 left in the first half, a small consolation for a drive that opened with Kittle sustaining what appeared to be a serious injury.

Kittle’s left ankle was taped entering the game as he pushed through a sprain that he suffered in a Dec. 22 win over the Colts in Indianapolis. That injury kept him out the following week when the 49ers beat the Chicago Bears, but he returned in the regular-season finale last weekend, a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

A hamstring injury early in the season-opening win at Seattle shelved Kittle for the next four games.

Kittle’s exit cast an eerily familiar pall over the 49ers’ prospects as three years earlier here, when Purdy sustained a torn elbow ligament on their opening drive of the NFC Championship Game.

The first half ended with the 49ers down 13-10 and failing to get in position for a potential tying field goal. Purdy scrambled 7 yards to the Eagles’ 37-yard line, then fumbled out of bounds to end the half.