George Kittle’s recovery from his torn Achilles is officially ahead of schedule, with the 49ers getting some seriously good news before taking the field Thursday night. Everyone knew Kittle was pushing hard, but renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who actually performed the January surgery, gave him an encouraging visit in Los Angeles on Wednesday. This isn’t just a feel-good story, folks, this gives him a legitimate chance to play in the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.
The “Ahead of Schedule” Buzz Is Real
ESPN’s Adam Schefter dropped the bomb on us, confirming what Kittle himself hinted at last Sunday: he expects to return “sooner than later” and absolutely wasn’t thinking about starting the season on the PUP list. That visit with Dr. ElAttrache was critical, validating the progress. We’re talking about a player who tore his Achilles in January, and now, by late August, has a real shot at being on the field for Week 1. That’s a testament to his grind, no doubt. The 49ers are playing the Rams in exactly three weeks from Thursday night, making every single practice session crucial.
Practice Time: The Real Hurdle for Kittle
Even with all the positive medical updates, Kittle’s got his head screwed on straight about what it takes to hit the field. His lone concern about being ready for Week 1? Getting enough practice time and building up his football shape before that trip to Australia. He made it clear he does not want the regular season opener to be his first time back in pads. You know the saying, “you can train all you want, but you have to play football to get into football shape.” The 49ers have been putting in work, about four practices a week with two walk-throughs, plus joint practices and preseason games. If Kittle gets back on the practice field this Saturday, he’ll only have about a week of practices to ramp up his cardio. It’s not a lot, even for a player like Kittle. He gets the big picture, too, saying missing Week 1 wouldn’t be the “end of the world” in a 17-game season. Still, you know he wants to be out there.
The opening game in Australia against the Rams is coming fast. Will Kittle be ready to go, or will those practice reps keep him sidelined for the ultimate curtain-raiser?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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