George Kittle traveled with the San Francisco 49ers all the way to Australia, and yeah, that was the first clue he was playing in their Thursday night season opener. Turns out, the guy is in “good shape” to suit up, a truly wild turn of events for someone who tore his right Achilles not even a year ago.
The Wild Comeback No One Saw Coming
It’s barely September 2026, and Kittle, the 49ers’ tight end, is already looking like himself. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak is clearly hyped, telling David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com, “It’s been pretty cool to see Kittle out there looking like himself, looking fresh.” This is a dude who went under the knife for an Achilles repair just three days after tearing it in a January 11 playoff game against the Eagles. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Rams team physician, did the work. You don’t just bounce back from that kind of injury in months! Kubiak even said Kittle “looks good to me” and is “practicing full speed” getting “a ton of reps.” That’s a lot of confidence from the OC for a player coming off such a brutal injury.
Workload Questions Loom Despite Past Prowess
So, Kittle is practicing hard, looking fresh, but there’s still a big question hanging out there: what’s his workload gonna be? Kubiak admitted, “How that affects him on game day and what the workload is, that will be determined.” It makes total sense, right? You can look good, but an Achilles tear is no joke. Last season, Kittle was still a beast, making his seventh career Pro Bowl, even though he only played in 11 regular season games. He was battling hamstring and ankle injuries back then, yet he still pulled down 57 receptions for 628 yards and snagged seven touchdowns. That’s a Pro Bowl season on a bum leg. Imagine what he can do now!
The 49ers are kicking off their season opener against the Eagles on Thursday night, and Kittle’s presence is a huge deal. The guy is a game-changer, even if his reps are managed. It’s a testament to his toughness and maybe, just maybe, a sign the 49ers are going to be a problem right from the jump. We’ll see just how much impact he has when the lights come on, but for now, the Eagles are definitely on notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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