George Kittle Injury Status Could Be Biggest Storyline to Watch for NFC Championship Game

The San Francisco 49ers are just one win away from reaching Super Bowl LIV. Not only do the Green Bay Packers stand in their way, but potentially so does an injury to one of their biggest playmakers.

SF tight end George Kittle didn't practice with the team on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. That alone makes it the storyline of the NFC Championship Game, as fans are worried he will be limited for the showdown.

Kittle has been battling ankle soreness since last Saturday's NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. While many expect Kittle to play, the fact that he didn't go through a non-contact workout on Wednesday is a bit concerning.

The 49ers were without Kittle for two games this season due to a broken bone in his ankle. While they did get one win over the lowly Arizona Cardinals in Week 11, Kittle's absence was felt during a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.

Kittle would return from the injury, ironically against the Packers in Week 12. In that game, the tight end caught all six of his targets for 129 yards and a touchdown.

In 14 games this season, Kittle caught 85 of 107 targets for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns.

While San Francisco has other weapons through the air like Emmanuel Sanders and Deebo Samuel, Kittle is extremely important to its success. If he's deemed unable to go on Sunday night, the 49ers' task of winning the NFC Championship will obviously become much more difficult.