How NFL made George Kittle suspicious of electrical substation next to 49ers facility

George Kittle is suspicious.The 49ers’ star tight end appeared in an interview with Complex on Wednesday to discuss the theory that the electrical substation next to San Francisco’s practice facility has been causing its continued injuries.Kittle told host Jordan Rose that he doesn’t necessarily believe the theory, but he wants it checked out.He mentioned that during his rookie season in 2017, a veteran player pointed out to him that the trees between the Niners’ facility and the substation had all dead leaves year round.This year, he added, the NFL cut all the trees down.Kittle believes this could be evidence that the electrical substation is truly causing harm.“(The trees aren’t) there anymore, so no one can see them.So it’s only us vets that know that was the truth,” Kittle said.

“I don’t think anyone talked about that yet.That one messed me up.”He added that he and his fellow teammates, namely fullback Kyle Juszczyk, just want a clear answer.

For now, all it’s adding is a distraction.“As a professional athlete, you’re always trying to get one percent better.If something’s affecting you negatively .25 percent, you’d want to know about it,” Kittle said.

“All we’re saying as players is we’d like them to look into it to make sure it’s not something.”Kittle is open to the possibility that the substation is harmless.He mentioned that 49ers linebacker Fred Warner practices and trains at the facility year round, and his only major injury came this season — a broken ankle in October against the Buccaneers.ESPN reported in January that the 49ers plan to investigate every theory, including the substation, in the offseason following another injury-riddled year.The substation opened shortly after San Francisco moved to the facility in the late 1980s and expanded in 2014. “Because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said.I...