49ers Star George Kittle Provides Major Update on Achilles Recovery

The 49ers tight end is making impressive progress in his rehab and could be on pace to return in Week 1.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:38pm by

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a football player in mid-stride, with their body broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a palette of deep red, navy blue, and gold, conceptually representing the complexity and challenge of recovering from a major injury.Kittle's recovery from a devastating Achilles injury will be a key factor in the 49ers' quest to return to the Super Bowl.San Francisco Today

San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle has provided a major update on his recovery from a torn Achilles injury suffered during the playoffs last season. Kittle said the rehab process has been 'straightforward' and that he's already off crutches and back on the golf course, with everything trending in the right direction for a potential Week 1 return.

Why it matters

Kittle is one of the league's top tight ends and a crucial part of the 49ers' offense. His return to full health will be crucial for San Francisco's hopes of returning to Super Bowl contention in the upcoming season.

The details

Kittle suffered the torn Achilles during the 49ers' Wild Card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He said the rehab process has involved a lot of calf raises and that he's now off crutches and able to walk and do other activities. While he stopped short of providing a specific timeline, Kittle expressed optimism about his recovery progress.

  • Kittle suffered the torn Achilles during the 49ers' Wild Card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
  • Kittle has been off crutches for a couple of weeks.

The players

George Kittle

A star tight end for the San Francisco 49ers who is recovering from a torn Achilles injury suffered in the playoffs last season.

Brock Purdy

The starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.

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What they’re saying

“The rehab is actually pretty straightforward. You either do standing calf raises or seated calf raises until you can run and walk and stuff. So I'm walking. I got off of crutches a couple weeks ago. We're back on a golf course. Everything's trending in the right direction. It's going great.”

— George Kittle, 49ers Tight End

“Crutches for like 10 or 11 weeks, that sucked. But, like I said, we're past it. I'm having a great time. The only negative is that my wife now knows that I can carry things again, and so I've been helping her move boxes. So that's some downside of getting off crutches.”

— George Kittle, 49ers Tight End

What’s next

Kittle will continue his rehab process and the 49ers will monitor his progress closely, with the goal of having him ready to play in Week 1 of the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Kittle's recovery from a torn Achilles is a crucial storyline for the 49ers as they look to bounce back and contend for a Super Bowl in 2026. His ability to return to full health and regain his status as one of the league's elite tight ends will be a major factor in San Francisco's success.