San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle is expected to play a major role in the 2026 NFL season, an impressive outlook considering he suffered an Achilles injury during the team's Wild Card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
While initially viewed as a potentially season-altering setback, the injury was ultimately less severe than first feared, resulting in a more optimistic recovery timeline. That optimism has even sparked questions about whether Kittle could be ready for Week 1, a scenario that looks very realistic.
Over the weekend, Kittle spoke with CNBC's Alex Sherman, an admitted 49ers fan who pressed him about a possible return during training camp. Kittle, however, was careful not to fuel any lofty expectations.
"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," Kittle said. "Let's just—we'll dip our toes back in a little bit slower than that. But, hey, who knows? Miracles have happened."
Despite the cautious tone, Kittle emphasized that his recovery is trending in the right direction.
"Achilles is doing great," Kittle said. "We're 13 weeks out of surgery. I think I'm ahead of schedule. My surgeon's super happy with it. So, we're on track to play a lot of football next season. So, I'm in a great place."
Kittle is entering his 10th NFL season and was already managing injuries last year before the Achilles setback. He finished the regular season with 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns, and tallied just one catch for six yards before his early playoff exit against the Eagles.
H/t to Niners Wire for the find.
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