San Francisco‘s playoff run continues, yet once again injuries dominate the discussion, and after George Kittle went down against the Philadelphia Eagles, even players are now reacting to a strange theory surrounding the 49ers‘ health issues.
The latest concern followed a 23-19 wild-card win over the 2025’s Super Bowl champions, however the victory was overshadowed by Kittle‘s first-quarter exit, extending a pattern that has haunted San Francisco during recent postseason pushes.
And in the locker room, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne addressed online speculation, offering a frustrated but honest response that captured the mood around a team tired of seeing stars sidelined at key moments.
“Yes, that power plant. No, I’m just playing. I don’t know. But it just sucks. It just sucks,” Bourne said, via KNBR, before stressing the daily work the roster puts in to prepare.
“We do a good job, just working every day. Injuries are part of the game. It’s unfortunate. But we just got to hold it down and keep that good energy,” Bourne added, pointing to resilience.
“Believe in the next man up. Call him and have a good job of having depth on the team. We believe in the next man up,” he continued, echoing a long-standing organizational mantra.
The comments referenced a viral social media thread that has drawn millions of views, suggesting environmental factors near Levi’s Stadium could be contributing to San Francisco’s repeated injury problems.
The post, created by EMF consultant Peter Cowan, claims a nearby electrical substation emits low-frequency electromagnetic fields that may weaken soft tissue over prolonged exposure, fueling online debate.
Cowan argues such exposure can “degrade collagen, weaken tendons, and cause soft-tissue damage,” though there is no scientific evidence tying EMF exposure to NFL injury rates or outcomes.
Still, the timing reignited discussion after Kittle was carted off and later diagnosed with a torn ACL, an injury expected to sideline the star tight end for several months.
Kittle‘s setback adds to a long list of significant injuries, with players like Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Brandon Aiyuk all missing time in recent seasons.
Despite the noise, the organization has not addressed the theory publicly, and the focus remains squarely on advancing, as San Francisco prepares for another demanding playoff test.
San Fran 49ers stun Eagles to eliminate defending Super Bowl champions
San Francisco’s 23-19 road win eliminated the defending champion Eagles, sending the 49ers to the Divisional Round despite being shorthanded on both sides of the ball.
Already without several starters, the loss of Kittle threatened momentum, yet the offense responded with creativity, highlighted by a trick-play touchdown that shifted control early in the fourth quarter.
After trailing by six, Jauan Jennings threw a 29-yard scoring pass to McCaffrey, injecting life into a unit that had stalled following Kittle‘s departure.
Philadelphia briefly reclaimed the lead behind a field goal, but Brock Purdy answered with a late touchdown drive, finding McCaffrey again to seal the outcome.
Defensively, San Francisco bent late but held firm, forcing a turnover on downs in the final moments to close out a gritty performance.
Now headed to face top-seeded Seattle, the 49ers will again rely on depth, discipline, and belief, as injuries persist and outside theories swirl, yet the season remains alive.
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