George Kittle reacts to DeForest Buckner trade

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver George Kittle expressed his excitement over the team's acquisition of former defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. After the 49ers traded a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts, Kittle shared a photo on X featuring himself, Buckner, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Kittle captioned the image, "DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK," emphasizing their strong bond from their time together in San Francisco from 2017 to 2019.

The photo mirrors the camaraderie that existed between Kittle, Buckner, and Juszczyk, all of whom were part of the same locker room for those years.

Buckner, a 2016 first-round draft pick for the 49ers, contributed significantly to the team during his first four seasons. During his tenure in San Francisco, he amassed 75.5 career sacks, 101 tackles for loss, and 196 quarterback hits over 11 seasons. At the age of 32, Buckner remains a productive player, having recorded four sacks and 20 pressures in his current season.

His return to the 49ers is timely, as the team faces challenges with injuries to tackles CJ West and Alfred Collins. With the potential pairing of Buckner with Osa Odighizuwa and rookie Gracen Halton, the 49ers are set to bolster their defensive line. Additionally, the return of Nick Bosa from a calf strain is anticipated soon after the bye week.

The San Francisco 49ers head into their Week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi's Stadium, with Buckner poised to be a key player in their efforts to strengthen the defense.