49ers fans got a real jolt of optimism on Sunday when George Kittle was taken off the physically unable to perform list, a move that landed 10 days before San Francisco is set to leave for Australia and its Week 1 matchup with the LA Rams. The timing matters. It points to Kittle having a real shot at playing in the Sept. 10 opener overseas, even after his Achilles injury had made that feel like a long shot.
No one seemed happier than Claire Kittle. The Sports Illustrated model posted the update on her Instagram story after the team activated her husband from the PUP list, and she didn’t hide how fired up she was about it.
“& I repeat. A unicorn,” she wrote.
She followed that with a post from the 49ers account showing pictures of Kittle from Sunday’s practice at Levi’s Stadium, and she made her feelings clear again.
“I’m loving these photos.”
Sunday was the first time Kittle had practiced on the field in full pads since training camp opened, according to ESPN. He had spent camp on PUP while working his way back from the Achilles injury he suffered in the playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11.
The latest signs have been moving in the right direction for a while. Kittle also visited his orthopedic doctor in Los Angeles, the same surgeon who performed his ACL surgery, and Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the appointment went well and that Kittle is ahead of schedule in his recovery.
Schefter wrote: “49ers tight end George Kittle visited Wednesday in Los Angeles with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the surgery on his torn Achilles in January,” Schefter wrote.
“It was said to be an encouraging visit. Kittle’s recovery is ahead of schedule, and it gives him a legitimate chance to play in the regular season opener in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams.”
After practice, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the return of Kittle - along with Christian McCaffrey - has given the team a lift.
"It just gives us energy,” Kubiak said. “You've got two Hall of Fame-caliber players out there who are back out there and getting their work in.
"George is unique. George is one of a kind. There's only so many players who can do what he can do."
Kittle’s offseason wasn’t limited to rehab, either. He also made his way to Hollywood with an acting role in an upcoming sci-fi movie based on dinosaurs.
In Other News...
Rams Fringe Players Just Turned Final Roster Cuts Into A Real Debate
The Rams 34-0 preseason win over the Saints did more than add another lopsided August result to the ledger. It also gave a handful of fringe players a chance to make their case at exactly the right time, with Wesley Bailey and Bennett among the names who stood out enough to force a second look from the coaching staff as the roster picture starts to tighten.
Tim Keenan and Dean Connors, meanwhile, are still fighting to turn limited opportunities into something more secure. That is what makes this stage of the preseason so interesting for Los Angeles: the top of the roster is mostly settled, but the final decisions can hinge on one good night, one missed chance, or one player who keeps showing up when the Rams need someone to separate himself. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Rookie Battle Just Got Tighter Before Final Roster Cuts
The Rams rookie class has spent the preseason trying to turn practice buzz into something more concrete, and the final tune-up against the Chargers should bring the evaluation into sharper focus. With roster cuts approaching, every snap has mattered a little more for first-year players trying to carve out a role, whether that means landing on the 53-man roster or simply making sure they stay in the conversation.
A few of those rookies have already made their case with recent game contributions, while others have seen their paths complicated by injuries or uneven showings. The result is a tighter race than it looked a couple of weeks ago, and the Rams now have a tricky set of decisions to sort through before the preseason ends. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Cutdown Day Pressure Is Rising On One Crowded Position Group
The Rams have one of those late-summer roster puzzles every contender runs into, only this one sits right on the defensive line, where the numbers are tighter than the team would like. Ty Hamilton, a former fifth-round pick, has put himself in strong position after a solid preseason showing, a notable step forward after a difficult rookie season and the kind of camp that can change how a staff views a young lineman.
But Hamilton is only part of the equation, not the whole answer. Tim Keenan III, Bill Norton and Larrell Murchison are all still fighting for limited openings, and the possibility of Aaron Donalds return only makes the picture more complicated for a group already crowded with bodies and short on certainty. With cutdown day approaching, the Rams front has the feel of a spot where one more strong practice can matter a lot. [Read more 🡒]