George Kittle Undergoes Successful Surgery, Could Beat Typical Achilles Recovery Timeline
The San Francisco 49ers took a hit in their Wild Card win over the Eagles, losing star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles. But head coach Kyle Shanahan delivered some encouraging news this week: Kittle’s surgery went well, and there’s optimism around his recovery timeline.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Shanahan shared that Kittle was already in good spirits post-op. “I talked to him through text,” Shanahan said.
“He sent a funny picture of himself after surgery to my wife. He seemed like he was feeling pretty good, like most people are right after surgery.
I heard it went great and it was a successful surgery. He has a chance to come back a lot sooner than we used to think back in the day with Achilles injuries.”
That’s a significant update, especially considering how brutal Achilles tears have historically been for NFL players. While the standard recovery window for this type of injury often stretches nine to twelve months, modern medical advancements-and elite-level rehab-have started to shift that narrative. Shanahan’s comments suggest Kittle could potentially be back on the field sooner than expected, though no official timetable has been set.
Kittle went down early in the second quarter of the 49ers’ 23-19 playoff win over Philadelphia. The injury happened on a short reception, and he was carted off the field shortly after. He didn’t return to the game, and the team later confirmed the Achilles tear.
Despite the setback, Kittle seems to be staying true to form-resilient and upbeat. Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall shared that he FaceTimed with Kittle shortly after the procedure.
“He’s playing a little bit of video games. He’s playing ARC Raiders, the new video game,” Pearsall said.
“I was just checking on him, see how he’s doing. He seems to be in some good spirits right now, but that’s George, man.”
That’s classic Kittle-gritty on the field, lighthearted off it. His presence in the locker room and on the sideline is as valuable as his production between the lines, and it’s clear his teammates are still feeling that energy, even as he begins rehab.
With Kittle sidelined, the 49ers will turn to Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges to fill the tight end role as they head into Saturday’s divisional round matchup in Seattle. It’s a tall order, especially with the team already dealing with a rash of injuries this season-including the earlier loss of defensive anchor Nick Bosa.
Still, if there’s one thing this 49ers team has shown under Shanahan, it’s resilience. And while Kittle’s absence is a blow, the long-term outlook-especially with the positive news post-surgery-offers hope that one of the league’s most dynamic tight ends could be back sooner rather than later.