49ers' George Kittle expects early-season comeback, aims for Week 1

Cam Inman, The Mercury News on Aug 16, 2026

Published in Football

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — George Kittle is “very confident” he will be cleared to play in the San Francisco 49ers’ initial games this season.

What’s not so certain is whether he’ll launch his Achilles comeback as the season opens in Australia, where the 49ers play in just 3 1/2 weeks against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

“Hopefully I’m in pads sooner or later, because I don’t want my first time in pads being in Australia,” Kittle said Tuesday. “I don’t think that would be a smart idea.

“These next couple weeks will be everything and let me know if I’m ready to play Week 1 or not.”

Three weeks into his 10th training camp, Kittle remains on the Physically Unable To Perform list, and should the 49ers keep him there to start the season, he’d miss at least the first four games. That is not his goal or intention.

“When (Dr. Neal) ElAttrache told me I had a chance to play Week 1 as long as did everything I was supposed to do, it was pretty easy to light a fire every single day,” Kittle said. “It is the most boring rehab in the entire world. It’s about how many seated calf raises and standing calf raises can you do in a day, basically for 18 weeks.

If he can’t get cleared to play in Week 1, then he doesn’t expect to make the 16-hour flight and week-long stay in Australia.

“I have a chance,” Kittle added. “We’re running around a lot. Hitting top speeds.”

Kittle said those speeds are almost where they were before his right Achilles ruptured high on his calf Jan. 11, in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia.

At 245 pounds, he is close to his ideal playing weight, and he has no fears of reigniting his chemistry with Brock Purdy, noting: “He’s good at throwing me the ball. We’ll pick that up pretty quickly.”

Kittle’s tedious rehab began within 10 minutes of getting his cast off, when he was pickin up marbles with his feet and doing calf raises, just as former teammate Richard Sherman advised from his own Achilles comeback in 2018.

“It was very aggressive and looking back on it it’s pretty crazy, because I went from not putting any pressure on it to running routes,” Kittle said. “… The whole goal is just to get the pads back on, get a helmet on, and just go run around in circles until I feel I’m in good shape.”

Defensive line pains

Defensive tackle C.J. West and defensive end Titus Leo sustained unspecified injuries on back-to-back plays in the 49ers’ final open practice of camp, ahead of Tuesday’s joint session at the Los Angeles Chargers.

An ankle injury kept rookie defensive tackle Grayson Halton out of practice. He participated Saturday, two days after a strong debut in the preseason opener.

Osa Odighizuwa and Alfred Collins are the projected starters on the interior, and although West and Halton seem like roster locks, their injuries meant more reps Saturday for Bryson Eason and James Thompson II, a pair of undrafted rookies who’ve impressed. Sebastian Valdez also is bidding to make the team after last season’s practice-squad stint.

Another Offensive line concussion

Right guard Dominick Puni missed his first practice with a concussion and was replaced by Rob Jones. Puni is the third offensive lineman to sustain one this camp, joining Carver Willis and Brett Toth, the latter of whom has been out two weeks. All linemen are wearing Guardian caps that are to help minimize impact.

Wide receiver scares

Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans and Jacob Cowing each got dinged up, but none of the wide receivers’ injuries appeared serious. Samuel agonized the most after getting hit on a screen at the 5-yard line, apparently as his funny bone shot pain through his left arm.

Evans, who caught a deep pass earlier in practice from Purdy, appeared to hurt a hand when hit by a defensive back near the sideline on a red zone reception. Evans returned two snaps later.

Cowing’s left ankle appeared to get tangled up with a defensive back on a Purdy incompletion. Cowing came back not long afterward to catch a Mac Jones pass that nearly got intercepted, then Cowing hauled in a 40-yard pass from Purdy past Deommodore Lenoir.

Deep catches

Cowing wasn’t the only one snagging deep throws. Four snaps later, Samuel caught a 40-yard bomb from Jones against Jack Jones’ coverage.

Evans caught a 28-yard Purdy pass on a crossing route against Lenoir, and Malik Turner celebrated his deep-ball reception against Upton Stout on a blitz-beating pass from Purdy.

Still sidelined

Defensive end Nick Bosa was seen running — with speed — on a side field. He’s been out since Aug. 3 because of tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee.

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s rib injury, which ended his successful debut Thursday night, is not expected to be a long-term issue, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiiak said.

Running backs Christian McCaffrey (unspecified tightness), Jordan James (rib) and Kaelon Black (adductor) also remain out, although Black is running at a fast clip again on the side.

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