Athletic: Kittle (Achilles) ahead of schedule

It has been reported multiple times this offseason that Kittle could have a chance to be ready in time for the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Rams in Australia. The decision to activate him from the PUP list on Sunday is the most encouraging sign we have seen to date that a Week 1 return is possible, as the team will now prepare to ramp him up in the coming weeks to see how his surgically repaired Achilles holds up. Kittle underwent surgery to repair his Achilles in mid-January, so he’s just over seven months removed from a surgery that typically sidelines players for 9-12 months. The 32-year-old tight end would be a welcome addition to a receiving corps that’s been decimated by injuries in camp, so his progress will be something to monitor in the weeks ahead.

This is just Maiocco’s “guess,” so his comments should not be taken as a declaration. Maiocco recently spoke with Kittle. They discussed the 32 hours of in-flight time to and from the 49ers’ Week 1 game in Australia, along with Kittle’s desire to be healthy for the full 2026 season. The 49ers have Super Bowl aspirations, so hurrying a star player back in time for an international season opener might not make sense. Delaying his 2026 debut to Week 2 adds 10 days to Kittle’s rehab schedule. The extra time could be hugely beneficial. The veteran tight end is a TE1, regardless of his Week 1 availability.

Kittle reportedly had “an encouraging visit” with his orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, today. According to Schefter, Kittle’s recovery is ahead of schedule, and he has a real chance to take a seat on the team plane when his team flies to Australia roughly one week before their Week 1 game kicks off. This is the second positive report regarding Kittle’s recovery this week. He remains a TE1 entering his age-32 season, coming off a season-ending injury.

Kittle is “very confident” he will be activated from the active/PUP list before Week 1, meaning he should resume playing sometime in Weeks 1-4. The veteran tight end has not yet resumed practicing, but “hinted he’d be back at practice shortly but declined to give a timeline,” per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Kittle said that he is running and hitting top speeds while doing so. The 49ers are scheduled to fly out for the Week 1 game in Melbourne, Australia roughly one week before the game. Kittle said that the next couple of weeks will determine whether he joins his teammates on that flight. From the way Kittle is discussing his recovery, it almost sounds like he expects to play in Week 2 at the latest, though that is purely an interpretive conclusion. Whether Kittle returns to form as a post-catch dominator remains to be seen, but the 32-year-old remains a top-12 player at his position at this time.

Speaking to the media Saturday, 49ers general manager John Lynch said that Kittle, Alfred Collins, and Isaac Guerendo will be moved to the PUP list ahead of the start of camp but that he is “optimistic on all of them hitting the practice field sooner than later.” As a reminder, players can be moved from the PUP list at any point during camp, meaning the fact that they currently find themselves with that designation does not mean they will miss anything meaningful to their fantasy value in 2026.

Kittle met with the media this week and said that the Achilles is “doing great” and he has had no setbacks. He even said it’s realistic that he could come back eight months after tearing his Achilles. The tight end turns 33 this October and still hasn’t been cleared for practice as he worked off to the side during OTAs. Jake Tonges will fill in for Kittle if he has to miss any time this season.

This is encouraging, though Shanahan added that he doesn’t want to say Kittle is “on track” to play, but he knows Kittle is “shooting for” a Week 1 return. One month ago, 49ers general manager John Lynch said he is “hopeful” that Kittle will be able to play in Week 1. It sounds like Kittle should return early in the 2026 season, even if Week 1 is out of reach. If they start him on the physically unable to perform list, he could return in Week 5. For the time being, it feels safe to say that he should be back by Week 5 or sooner. Anything can happen, though.

Per Lynch, Kittle is “progressing at a good rate” as he works through his rehab program. Kittle ruptured his Achilles tendon on January 11, 2026, in the 49ers’ Wild Card Round win over the Eagles. Dr. Neal ElAttrache repaired Kittle’s Achilles tendon later that week. A little over five weeks ago, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner said “it’s reasonable” to think Kittle could return in Week 5 “or so.” It sounds like Kittle now has a chance to beat that date, but we are a long way off from knowing anything definitive and Lynch’s status updates have trended towards being overly positive — Brandon Aiyuk is coming back any week now.

Wagoner’s long piece on Kittle’s injury is rooted in the idea that Kittle’s Achilles tear was “clean” and “happened high up by his soleus,” meaning the blood flow wasn’t as poor as it could be during the recovery. Kittle did not entirely rule out the idea of being ready for Week 1. We’d be surprised if a tight end entering his age-33 season was ready for Week 1, but we’ve learned not to count out any wild physical feats from Kittle. This timeline makes him a little more interesting in 2026 best ball, at the very least.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan adds that Kittle “is in good spirits,” post-op. That is good to hear. Kittle, 32, ruptured his Achilles tendon in San Francisco’s Wild Card win over the Eagles. He is under contract through 2029, having signed a four-year extension in April 2025. The procedure was notably performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.