For most NFL players, an Achilles injury can take close to 12 months to fully heal. George Kittle isn’t like most NFL players.
Kittle went down with an Achilles tear in the San Francisco 49ers’ Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11. It was a devastating injury for him and the 49ers, who saw their season end the very next week. It derailed a potential postseason run and looked like it would keep Kittle out for the majority of the 2026 season. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Speaking to the media last week, Kittle detailed how the rehab process is going and shared that he’s on track to return for the 49ers’ season opener in September.
“When I had the surgery and [Dr. Neal] ElAttrache told me, he said, ‘Hey, I think if you do everything the right way, you have a chance,’ it definitely ignites something and makes you push for it,” Kittle said. “We’re on track. We’re ahead of schedule.”
Kittle would later share that there’s still a lot he has to do before that dream becomes a reality. Things like run blocking, pass protection, and running routes are on his to-do list over the next few months. If everything goes according to plan, the former Iowa tight end could return to action much earlier than someone with an Achilles injury normally would.
In 124 NFL games, Kittle has 595 receptions, 8,008 receiving yards, and 52 receiving touchdowns. He also has 461 career postseason receiving yards. The 32-year-old has been one of the best tight ends in the league over the last decade, and maybe the best tight end to ever come out of Iowa’s storied program.
The 49ers open their season on Thursday, Sept. 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Kickoff is set for 7:35 p.m. CT on Netflix.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 49ers injury update: George Kittle ‘on track’ for possible Week 1 return
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
