49ers TE George Kittle Is “Ahead of Schedule” in Return from Achilles Tear

George Kittle is ahead of schedule in his recovery from an Achilles tear, and he told Rich he has a real chance to be on the field for the San Francisco 49ers in Week One.

That was the headline from the 49ers tight end's check-in with Rich, and Kittle did not hedge much on the timeline. "I'm definitely a little bit ahead of schedule," he said. "I have a goal to be out there week one with the boys. And I'm going to do everything in my power to do it. And if I'm cleared and it's smart for me to play, I'll be out there. So I have a chance. And I'm very excited. Give me a chance. I'll take it."

The progress is concrete, not aspirational. Kittle said that last Wednesday or Thursday he was doing single-leg box jumps up to a 20- or 24-inch box. He has also been back in his cleats. "I got to put cleats on last week. So I was on the field in my cleats," he said. "Jogging around, doing some easy cutting. We're making a ton of progress."

The people around the recovery share the optimism. Kittle pointed to his head PT and the clinic that performed the surgery in LA, along with the Niners' training staff. "They're both super happy," he said. "And then my team from the Niners, our trainers over there are super excited with my progress."

The biggest tell of how seriously Kittle is taking Week One is what he is giving up to get there. He told Rich he will not play in the American Century Championship golf event this year, a notable absence for a tight end who clearly loves the tournament. "I'm disappointed. I'm not going to be there this year. I will be there next year," he said.

The math behind that call was simple. "I figured it'd be a tough look for me to be golfing four days in a row not being able to do rehab," Kittle said, "and like then if I couldn't play week one, that would just be a bad look."

Instead, he is staying close to his rehab. "I'm trying to be in Nashville as much as I can and just do my rehab five, six days a week and just make sure I have a chance to be out there."

The bottom line: nothing is guaranteed, and Kittle was careful to attach the word "if" to being cleared. But ahead of schedule, back in cleats, cutting on the field, and skipping golf to protect the timeline, he gave himself the only thing he asked for. A chance.