George Kittle isn’t ruling out a Week 1 return, and for a 49ers summer that’s been heavy on bad news, that’s a welcome turn.
The veteran tight end said Sunday that he’s still in the mix to play against the Rams, which would come a day shy of eight months after he tore his Achilles in the playoffs. Kittle said the rehab has moved along well enough that he’s hitting top speeds and taking real steps toward getting back on the field.
“I have a chance,” Kittle told reporters on Sunday. “We're running around a lot, hitting top speeds.
Hopefully we're back in pads practicing sooner than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumb---.”
Kittle also said the 49ers are running into routes as part of his recovery and that he’s stayed optimistic throughout the process.
The calendar makes things tricky. San Francisco opens the season three days before most teams, and the club is set to travel to Australia eight days before the game.
That pushes the timeline forward on any decision, and Kittle said his status will likely be determined before the team leaves. If he’s not cleared, he won’t travel with the 49ers.
If Week 1 ends up being too soon, the early part of the schedule still gives Kittle some breathing room. San Francisco doesn’t play again until Sept. 20 against the Dolphins, which would give him more time before the team’s first game back in the United States.
The 49ers then face the Cardinals after the Australia trip and later get a Week 4 matchup with the Broncos, a game that could make sense as a target if Kittle and the team decide to stay cautious in September.
Kittle’s injury came in January, when he tore his Achilles in the 49ers’ wild-card round win over the Eagles. He was carted to the locker room and quickly ruled out for the season.
Achilles recoveries can move faster than ACL rehabs, but getting all the way back to form is a different challenge, especially with Kittle turning 33 in October. Even so, simply getting him back on the field would be a major lift for a team that has spent the summer dealing with one injury issue after another.
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