George Kittle is officially on the physically unable to perform list as the San Francisco 49ers open training camp, kicking off their preseason with a major question mark hanging over one of their star players. This isn’t just a minor camp bruise; Kittle tore his Achilles back in January. The 49ers’ front office might be “optimistic” about him playing in Week 1, but landing on the PUP list at the start of camp is never what you want to see for a guy coming off that kind of injury.
Kittle’s Achilles And The Race To Melbourne
Niners General Manager John Lynch went on record Saturday, confirming Kittle’s placement on the PUP list. He tried to spin it positively, saying the team is happy with the progress Kittle is making and that the tight end is doing “everything possible” to be ready. That’s good for Kittle, sure, but “everything possible” tells you it’s not a slam dunk. They’re trying to get him ready for a Week 1 showdown against the Rams, which is already set to take place across the globe in Melbourne. That’s a huge trip, even for fully healthy players, let alone someone still recovering from an Achilles tear. You gotta wonder if that long haul could complicate his return or push him back even further. For a division rival, you just can’t help but track these kinds of things.
Roster Shuffle And Other Injury Updates
Kittle isn’t the only Niner kicking off camp on the PUP list, either. Defensive end Mykel Williams, who’s dealing with an ACL injury, defensive tackle Alfred Collins with a shoulder issue, and running back Isaac Guerendo, nursing a pectoral injury, are all joining him on the sidelines. That’s a lot of key guys not practicing right away. On a slightly brighter note for them, defensive end Nick Bosa, also coming off an ACL, and linebacker Fred Warner, who had an ankle injury, managed to avoid the PUP list. That definitely bodes well for their fitness and is a relief for the 49ers’ defense. In other roster moves, San Francisco is signing tight end Tanner McLachlan, who had a brief stint with the Bengals in 2024 and spent time on the Chargers’ practice squad. They are also waiving defensive tackle Evan Anderson and tight end Khalil Dinkins this weekend.
So, while the 49ers camp is just getting started, they’re already navigating some serious injury concerns, especially with their star tight end. Every snap matters during camp, and Kittle missing out on reps is less than ideal. We’ll be watching closely to see how Kittle’s recovery progresses, and if he really makes it back for that Week 1 game against the Rams, or if this early camp news signals a longer absence.
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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