George Kittle’s goal from the moment he tore his Achilles was to get back for the season opener. He said Wednesday that he remains on track to get back for Week 1.
“My Achilles is doing great, no setbacks in my recovery,” Kittle said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Checking all the boxes, doing everything I’m supposed to do. My surgeon’s super happy. My physical therapist in L.A., who works with him, is super happy. Niners are happy. I’m happy.”
Kittle tore his right Achilles during a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Eagles. That gave him only eight months for surgery and rehab, prompting an initial fear that Kittle would miss some of the 2026 season.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery on Kittle’s Achilles in Los Angeles the week of the injury, and he told Kittle immediately afterward that Kittle had “a chance” to make it back for Week 1.
“I mean, it definitely ignites something and makes you push for it,” Kittle said. “So, we’re on track; we’re ahead of schedule.”
The long round trip to and from Melbourne, Australia, for the first game complicates Kittle’s timeline, but he calls it “just another challenge.”
Kittle made a seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries.
49ers General Manager John Lynch announced in February that the team had hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. On Wednesday, the 49ers announced Adofo-Mensah’s title.
He will serve as vice president, personnel and strategy.
The Vikings fired Adofo-Mensah in January after four seasons with the team.
The 49ers also announced nine executives have earned promotions to new roles within the organization.
- Nathan Biehl - Area Scout
- Grant Bordelon - Football Systems and Personnel Operations Specialist
- Ryan Carter - NFS Scout
- Brad Clark - Senior Director, Football Technology & Video Systems
- Casey Filkins - Player Personnel Scout
- Jordan Fox - Pro Scout
- Michael Gonzalez - Head of General Manager Operations
- Austin Moss II - Vice President, Player Development & Team Dynamics
- Jeff Weidemeyer - Senior Manager, Football Administration & Roster Management
The 49ers canceled next week’s mandatory minicamp, so they will wrap up their offseason program on Thursday.
49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones did not throw last week or this week as he rests his throwing arm.
Jones, though, isn’t concerned.
“Just a little soreness in my shoulder,” Jones said on Wednesday, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Everything’s clean and looks good, so just kind of being precautionary, I guess is the word. But yeah, I’ll be ready for training camp.”
Jones, 27, started eight games in place of Brock Purdy last season, and the 49ers went 5-3 in his starts. His success spurred trade rumors in the offseason, but the 49ers made it clear to him that they had no plans to trade him.
While he wants another starting opportunity, Jones isn’t in a rush to leave a good situation.
“I also love it here, and I’m not really in the business of leaving good people, so I’m not mad about it at all,” Jones said. “I think it’s a great organization, and I did a lot of fun stuff last year, but it’s a new year. I feel like this is the first year I’ve had the same offensive playbook, being in the NFL, so that’s kind of nice. If you go to a new team, you’ve got to learn a new playbook again and kind of do everything over, so it’s good.
“I’m excited, and really, just looking forward to this summer and getting everything going again.”
The 49ers gave Jones a pay raise for 2026 as he enters the final year of his contract.
Trent Williams signed a two-year, $50 million contract this offseason, with $37 million fully guaranteed.
The 49ers left tackle, who turns 38 next month, goes into his 17th season thinking the 2027 season will “probably” be his last. He called that thought “scary.”
“I’m toying between the idea of going until I can’t no more and just leaving while I’ve still got some good product left and I get ran out of the league,” Williams said, via video from the team. “It’s been a long time. I had a daughter that she was born three months before I got drafted, so I’m going on year 17 and she’s turning 17. As a father, you feel like I’ve kind of felt like I missed her whole life.”
Williams wants to spend more time with his family, but he also knows his competitiveness might win out after the 2027 season if he’s still performing at a Pro Bowl level.
“There’s little stuff I’ve got to think about,” Williams said. “Obviously, I can’t tell the future. I don’t know. I’m still a competitor. It’s hard not to compete when you can, so we’ll see.”
Williams made his 12th Pro Bowl in 2025 and earned second-team All-Pro honors, so he still is playing at a high level.
Myles Garrett went from the Browns to the Rams this week. While the AFC North celebrated, the NFC West went to work.
49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster admitted the trade took him by surprise, prompting him immediately to start watching film of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
“I just wanted to remind myself because it kind of came out of left field,” Foerster said Tuesday, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com.
In the 49ers’ 26-8 win over the Browns last season, Garrett had a sack and three quarterback hits. He did not have a sack and only one quarterback hit in the Browns’ 19-17 victory over the 49ers in 2023.
“He made a couple plays, and then you’re like, ‘Let me go back and look at the tape and see what it really was,’” Foerster said. “And he’s a great player. He got after us, yeah, but we did have a plan. The plan was somewhat effective, and so, there’s other ways to do things as well.”
The 49ers play the Rams in Week 1 in Melbourne, Australia, in Garrett’s debut with his new team.
The 49ers were getting a plan ready for Jared Verse. Now, they have to contend with Garrett.
“I think Myles Garrett, he’s an all-time great pass rusher,” Foerster said. “He’s an unbelievable talent, but it’s still an edge rusher that you have to take care of.
“He’s an outstanding football player, and he’s going to be a challenge for us to take care of. But we had a plan last year. You’re going to do the best you can, and everybody has good players, and he’s a great player. And it’s good for them, helps them, and it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
