Kittle went down with a torn Achilles during San Francisco's Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles back in January, an injury that immediately raised fears he'd miss a huge chunk of the 2026 season. Surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache reportedly described the tear as a 'best-case scenario' given where it occurred, up high near the soleus, but a torn Achilles is still a torn Achilles for a 32-year-old tight end who plays the game like it owes him money.
That's what makes the latest update so notable. According to Matt Zenitz, Kittle's progress has been 'terrific' and there's a growing level of confidence around the building that he'll be ready to go when the lights come on Week 1.
Kittle himself has been saying similar things for months. Back in June he called his recovery ahead of schedule with 'no setbacks,' checking every box his surgeon and physical therapist put in front of him. He's also been upfront that plenty of people expected him out until Weeks 6-8, and he's leaned into proving that timeline wrong.
There's a real wrinkle here, though. San Francisco opens the season against the Rams in Australia on Thursday, September 10, which means a short week and a brutal 15-hour flight for a guy coming off a major lower-leg surgery. Kittle has acknowledged that travel grind could complicate things even if his leg itself is ready to go.
Training camp reps will ultimately decide this, not press conference optimism. But for a 49ers offense that's leaned on Kittle as a security blanket for years, every 'terrific' update out of camp is a good sign for a team trying to get back to contending in the NFC.