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49ers TE George Kittle takes another step toward potential Week 1 return
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

49ers TE George Kittle takes another step toward potential Week 1 return

By Clark Dalton  |  Last updated Aug 23, 2026 2:48 PM ET
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Perhaps star tight end George Kittle will join the San Francisco 49ers for their Week 1 clash against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Melbourne (Netflix, 8:35 p.m. ET).

Kittle, who tore his right Achilles tendon in a 23-19 NFC wild-card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles in January, missed training camp and the team's first two preseason games. He's now returning from the injury. On Sunday, the 49ers confirmed they're removing Kittle from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. 

What's next for George Kittle after injury announcement?

It appears the 49ers are already increasing Kittle's workload in an effort to have him play in Week 1. The Athletic's Vic Tafur shared a clip of him catching passes from a staff member while warming up for practice. 

Kittle's clearly taking steps in the right direction, but expecting him to play in Week 1 remains ambitious for the Niners. It can take up to a year to recover from an Achilles tear. Even so, the star pass-catcher is confident he can.

"I'm just going to keep [Week 1] as my goal, and then we'll adjust from there if we need to," Kittle said Aug. 16 (h/t David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone). "But I still believe that, my team still believes that, my surgeon [Dr. Neal ElAttrache] still believes I have a chance. So, just keep attacking it."

Whether Kittle plays in Week 1 or not, this update remains a positive for the 49ers. His return ensures San Francisco will have enough firepower to remain competitive in the NFC West, perhaps the best division in the NFL. Along with the Rams — who are considered Super Bowl favorites after acquiring defensive end Myles Garrett — the division features the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning champions. 

As of Sunday, DraftKings Sportsbook gives the 49ers +305 odds to win the division behind the Seahawks (+215) and the Rams (-105). Those odds will improve if Kittle remains productive. Last season, the seven-time Pro Bowler ranked third on the team in receiving yards (628 in 11 games) and tied for second in touchdown catches (seven). 

Despite the injury, league insiders still view Kittle as one of the top TEs in the game. In his annual poll, drawing on opinions from scouts, coaches and executives, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler ranked Kittle No. 3 in the NFL behind Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) and Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders).

With an even more stacked NFC West, the 49ers' path to a sixth Super Bowl title appears even more challenging. A healthy Kittle makes the road to a Lombardi Trophy somewhat easier. 

Clark Dalton
X Muck Rack

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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