Feb. 10, 2026, 4:20 p.m. PT
It looked initially like the San Francisco 49ers may be without superstar tight end George Kittle for most, if not all, of the 2026 season. Now a report from a 49ers reporter indicates the five-time All-Pro may not miss any of next season.
Kittle provided an update on his Achilles tear at the team’s locker cleanout the day after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoffs. He was optimistic about his recovery given the nature of the tear, which occurred higher up on his calf. Kittle didn’t sound like he was expecting to miss significant time.
Now the Athletic’s Matt Barrows is painting an even more optimistic picture of Kittle’s short-term future. In a mailbag where a reader asked about a potential Kittle replacement, Barrows noted the team could draft one, but they may not necessarily need one.
“I don’t think Kittle’s Achilles tendon tear will keep him out for all of or even most of next season,” Barrows wrote. “In fact, he’s aiming to be back by Week 1 (though that seems less likely if the team opens the season with a 16-hour flight to Australia).”
It would be a small miracle even if Kittle only misses a week or two. His Achilles injury took place in mid-January which was the reason for pessimism around him after an injury that typically costs players a full season.
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Kittle was excellent again in 2025 in his age 32 season. He missed six games because of a hamstring injury he sustained in the season opener vs. the Seahawks. In 11 contests he caught 57 of his 69 targets for 628 yards and seven touchdowns while earning his seventh Pro Bowl nod.
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