ClutchPoints
An injury-riddled 2025 season for the San Francisco 49ers ended with the most brutal injury of them all when tight end George Kittle went down with a torn Achilles during their Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not only was Kittle’s injury the final nail in the coffin for the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes, as they were comfortably bounced in the Divisional Round by the Seattle Seahawks, but it also put their 2026 season in jeopardy. Kittle is one of the most important players on the team, and a typical injury recovery for an Achilles tear would put him out for most of the regular season at minimum.
Don’t tell that to Kittle. He is still holding out hope for a Week 1 return that would be next to a miracle given the time of the 2025 season where he got injured. On Tuesday, he maintained that he is on track to be back by Week 1, via David Lombardi.
George Kittle on a potential Week 1 return: "Definitely on track. I have a chance." pic.twitter.com/8CiX1gvMDN
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 23, 2026
“Definitely on track. I have a chance,” Kittle said. “Nothing is 100% certain but I haven’t taken a step back. Nothing bad has happened, knock on so much wood. But we’re slowly getting better. That’s all I can ask for. We’re pushing as hard as I can, just without being an idiot.”
Week 1 is in early September, and Kittle’s injury was suffered in early January. That would be about eight months of recovery time for an injury that usually takes at least 10 months, but sometimes over a year, to come back from. But if anyone can do it, it’s Kittle.
The 49ers need Kittle on the field to be at their best on the offensive side of the ball. Not only is he one of the best pass-catchers at any position in the NFL, but he is also an elite blocking tight end that unlocks the San Francisco run game.
The 49ers return a lot of talent from a team that was very formidable a season ago. If Kittle and the rest of their roster can get healthy and stay that way all season, they will be a very tough out again in 2026.
The post 49ers’ George Kittle maintains he’s ‘on track’ for miraculous Week 1 return appeared first on ClutchPoints.
