The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't have to face George Kittle when they played the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 because he was on the injured reserve at the time. The Pro Bowl tight end is back in the fold, though, and while he's yet to get back to full strength, his return is good news not just for the Niners but the Jags as well.
Kittle landed on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco most definitely missed him, but Jake Tonges stepped up during his absence, hauling in a respectable 19 receptions for 166 yards with three touchdowns.
But as impressive as Tonges has been, he will most likely take on a reserve role once Kittle reclaims his spot in the starting lineup. That said, his promising outing may turn him into an intriguing trade candidate, and there may not be a better destination for him than Jacksonville after placing Brenton Strange on Injured Reserve.
The Jaguars will be without Brenton Strange for at least 4 weeks
Brenton Strange has hauled in a team-best 20 receptions for 204 yards this season. On top of that, his blocking chops have made him an integral piece of the Jacksonville offense. Unfortunately, the former Penn State Nittany Lion suffered a hip injury during the win over the Kansas City Chiefs that will force him to miss at least four games after landing on Injured Reserve.
During his absence, the Jaguars will try to replace Strange with a combination of Hunter Long, Johnny Mundt, and the recently signed Quintin Morris. While all three are proficient blockers, they don't offer much as pass catchers. That may prompt the team's brass to look for external possibilities. Enter Jake Tonges.
Why it makes sense for the Jaguars to call the 49ers about Jake Tonges
Jake Tonges signed with the Chicago Bears after going undrafted in 2022. He was released just before the regular season but landed on their practice squad, where he spent his rookie campaign. The Cal product landed in the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 2023, but it wasn't until the following year that he suited up for a regular-season game.
Dating back to 2024, Tonges has appeared in 21 games with one start for the Niners. As noted before, his playing time will decrease once George Kittle is back. And while he would be a solid TE2, San Francisco may be willing to trade him if someone makes an enticing offer. That someone could be the Jaguars. This isn't that far-fetched when you consider that general manager James Gladstone isn't afraid to pull the trigger if he can make a deal that will address a need.
The Jaguars have multiple draft picks in Rounds 3, 5, and 7 of the 2026 draft, so they could easily put together a package for Tonges. Heck, something along the lines of a fifth and seventh may get a deal done.
Now, the Jaguars may ultimately go with the group of tight ends they have, but they shouldn't rule out the possibility of trading for Jake Tonges or another tight end to replace Brenton Strange, even if it's just for a few weeks.