George Kittle is already hitting top speeds in his Achilles rehab, making a Week 1 return look like a real possibility, and honestly, the rest of the league isn’t ready for that kind of relentless positivity. It’s a massive update from the 49ers’ camp, especially with the team returning to practice on Sunday. Talk about a spark heading into the next few weeks!
Kittle’s Comeback Trail: “Sooner Than Later” Is The Vibe
If you’re wondering about George Kittle, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak is hearing “relentless positivity,” and that’s not just coach-speak. Kittle himself spoke to the media after Sunday’s practice, and the man sounds ready to roll. Week 1 isn’t off the table for him, and he’s trending in the right direction. He’s been “running around a lot” and “hitting top speeds.” He wants to be “back in pads practicing sooner than later,” adding that he’s “just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumbass.” Seriously, the guy is focused.
He even tapped Richard Sherman for advice on Achilles rehab. Kittle stressed how building a “strong foundation” over the next eight weeks is the most important part of the process. He said, “If you build a strong foundation, get your calf muscle back, get your strength back, then you’re allowed to train faster and get your body ready to go faster. So, we dominated those 8 weeks. Had a really good rehab.” The Week 1 target date clearly lit a fire under him. They’re 17 days out from flying to Australia, and Kittle believes he “has a chance” to play. Can you imagine?
Rourke’s Ribs and Roster Rollercoaster
On the quarterback front, rookie Kurtis Rourke is dealing with a rib injury and didn’t practice during the previous two sessions. But Kubiak doesn’t think it’ll be long-term: “I don’t think it’ll be long. I think he just needs to heal up a little bit and get him back out there. We don’t think it’s anything long-term.” That’s a relief for a young guy trying to prove himself.
Rourke’s first live action since 2024 clearly impressed. Kubiak called him “excellent” at organizing the huddle and getting the play call in, executing “really well.” He was “really pleased with how he played.” While Kubiak thinks it’s “premature” to say if Rourke will stick in the NFL, he sees a “bright future” and “a lot of room to grow.” Turns out, they drafted him because they thought he was an NFL quarterback. Kubiak noted Rourke had an injury in college that made his draft value fall, but they saw “a lot of talent” and thought he was better than a 7th-round pick, an “NFL thrower who was very bright, had the right size, and had a chance to be a player.” That’s big praise, and even though it’s just one game, Rourke definitely made a “strong statement to make the roster.” Meanwhile, Gracen Halton (ankle) and Dominick Puni (concussion) both sat out practice, which might keep them out of this week’s joint practice or preseason game against the Chargers.
With Kittle pushing hard for Week 1 and Rourke making waves, this early season has some serious storylines heating up. Can Kittle actually pull off that Week 1 return? Will Rourke continue to impress enough to snag a roster spot? We’ll be watching as the team gets ready for their trip to Australia in just over two weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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