San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Tuesday morning. He discussed the recovery progress of star tight end George Kittle, who is working his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered during last season's playoffs.
Kittle and the 49ers have remained optimistic that the injury would not cost the tight end a significant portion of the 2026 season. Whether Kittle will be ready to suit up against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 remains unclear, but there is growing optimism that the All-Pro could be available for the season opener.
One factor working in Kittle's favor is that the injury occurred higher on the Achilles tendon, an area with a greater blood supply that can contribute to a faster recovery. Lynch also credited Dr. Neal ElAttrache and his staff, along with the 49ers' medical and training staff, for helping guide Kittle through the rehabilitation process.
Kittle, meanwhile, has attacked his rehab and is ahead of schedule in his recovery, increasing the likelihood of an early return to the football field. He returned to practice last week after the 49ers activated him from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
"And then it comes down to some objective measures, and he's absolutely crushed them all," Lynch said. "Now, the thing with George that I think everyone knows, because everyone's seen it out here at training camp, he's done a ton of volume to the side, and he's looked incredible doing it."
On Monday, Kittle took another significant step forward, participating in team drills for the first time since suffering the injury.
"Yesterday was the first time he got involved in team reps, and we plan to continue that moving forward, continue to see how he responds," Lynch continued. "George is pushing, and he's got tremendous energy each and every day, and I think that helps come back from something like this.
"The way he's approached this rehab has been tremendous, so we'll see where it goes, but it certainly has us encouraged."
Mentioned in this article: George Kittle
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