Report: George Kittle expected to take team reps as 49ers weigh Week 1 return

The San Francisco 49ers could get their clearest indication yet this week of whether George Kittle will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

Kittle is expected to participate in team drills when the 49ers return to practice Tuesday, according to Pat McAfee, marking another significant step in the tight end's recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered during last season's playoffs.

"From our understanding, George Kittle will be a part of team reps tomorrow," McAfee reported Monday. "Team reps, I believe George Kittle will be back in full action tomorrow."

The development comes at a critical point for Kittle and the 49ers, who are scheduled to leave for Australia on Wednesday ahead of their Sept. 10 matchup against the Rams.

Kittle was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 23 and returned to practice that day, participating in individual drills but remaining out of team periods. The move ensured he would not be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

Tuesday's expected participation would represent the next stage of his progression.

McAfee suggested the practice could serve as an important test before the team departs for Melbourne.

"That's probably a huge test before we hop on this plane to get down to Australia," McAfee said.

Kittle suffered the Achilles injury on Jan. 11 and underwent surgery three days later. Despite the typically lengthy recovery associated with the injury, the veteran tight end has maintained throughout the offseason that playing in Week 1 remained a possibility.

Earlier this month, Kittle said he was approaching his pre-injury GPS speed numbers and had already been running at high speeds during his rehabilitation. He also acknowledged that returning to padded practices would be one of the remaining hurdles before he could realistically play in a game.

The 49ers have remained cautious about declaring Kittle ready for the opener.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently said Kittle had "taken a step back" in his recovery without providing additional details. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that Kittle was expected to practice this week and has a "legitimate chance" to play against Los Angeles.

Kittle's expected return to team drills would appear to keep that possibility alive.

The decision also raises a logistical question. San Francisco is traveling to Australia more than a week before the game to adjust to the time difference, and Kittle previously said the team would likely decide whether he has a realistic chance of playing before making the lengthy trip.

"If you miss Week 1 and you're playing Week 2, hey, it is what it is," Kittle said earlier this month while discussing his recovery. "I'm just going to keep that as my goal, and then we'll adjust from there if we need to."

Whether Kittle participates fully on Tuesday and how his Achilles responds afterward could go a long way toward determining whether that goal becomes a reality.

For now, his Week 1 status remains uncertain. But after spending the offseason rehabilitating an injury that initially placed the beginning of his 2026 season in doubt, Kittle appears poised to take his most significant step yet toward returning to the 49ers' offense.

Mentioned in this article: George Kittle