49ers tight end George Kittle is finally back on the practice field this week, jumping into team drills after a torn Achilles, but head coach Kyle Shanahan just pulled a complete 180 on his own previous comments about Kittle taking “a step back.” Talk about throwing everyone for a loop before the season even starts!
Shanahan’s Bizarre Press Conference Backtrack
Can you believe this? Just last week, the word out of the 49ers camp was that George Kittle had “taken a step back.” Fans were ready to freak out, right? We all know what a torn Achilles means, and a “step back” sounds like a nightmare scenario. But then, Shanahan comes out and basically tells everyone he misspoke. He flat out said, “I don’t know exactly what I said there, but it was probably just me not speaking right.” Seriously? You’re the head coach of an NFL team! He then doubled down, claiming if he *did* say that, it was “an accident.”
He wants us to believe his initial “step back” comment wasn’t meant to imply any change in Kittle’s timeline. Shanahan tried to clarify that it had nothing to do with Kittle’s actual injury, but rather just the process of “coming back and practicing these three days” with the team. It sounds like a big scramble to manage the message, doesn’t it? For a coach to walk back his own words so quickly and publicly? That’s not exactly inspiring confidence in the communication coming out of the building.
Kittle Is “Passing Everything,” But Week 1 Is Still “Up In The Air”
Despite the head coach’s verbal gymnastics, the actual news on Kittle seems pretty good for the 49ers, based on Shanahan’s latest update. Kittle is reportedly “passing everything” in his recovery from that torn Achilles. That’s huge! He’s not just practicing this week, he’s actually mixing it up in team drills, which is massive for someone trying to get back to game shape after such a serious injury. It should definitely put those initial “setback” worries to rest, at least regarding the Achilles itself.
But here’s the rub: even with all this positive movement and Kittle “passing everything,” his status for Week 1 against the Rams is still firmly “up in the air.” So while the coach is backtracking on his previous comments, the biggest question remains unanswered. It leaves you wondering: if he’s “passing everything” and practicing with the team, why is his Week 1 availability still so uncertain?
The 49ers will continue to practice for three more days before they jet off to Melbourne, Australia, to resume preparations for the season opener. Everyone will be watching closely to see if Kittle takes the field against the Rams. After Shanahan’s confusing comments, fans are desperate for some clear answers.
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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