George Kittle Is Trying to Defy Medical Science for the NFL's Australia Opener

Tearing an Achilles used to be a career death sentence. Now, guys are treating it like a bad ankle sprain and trying to catch international flights eight months later.

According to Adam Schefter, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle just had a highly encouraging checkup with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Kittle is officially ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles and has a real shot at suiting up for the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.

"Adam Schefter reported the visit was encouraging and Kittle is ahead of schedule."

For context, Kittle blew out his Achilles on January 11 during a Wild Card playoff game in Philadelphia. We are talking about a 250-pound man who makes his living blocking defensive ends and running through linebackers, trying to return to professional football in under eight months.

The 49ers desperately need him on the field. Kittle managed 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns last season despite battling hamstring and ankle issues. With wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk also sitting on the PUP list recovering from his own major injury, San Francisco is currently looking at a passing attack held together by duct tape and good vibes.

Oddsmakers and fantasy managers have been treating Kittle like a ghost for the early part of the 2026 season. If he actually takes the field in Week 1, it completely flips the script on how you evaluate the 49ers' offense against a familiar division rival.

Kittle is currently stashed on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but this visit changes the timeline. If he keeps checking boxes, the biggest question will not be his tendon, but whether Kyle Shanahan is actually willing to risk his star tight end on a rugby pitch in the Southern Hemisphere to start the year.