All-Pro tight end George Kittle couldn’t have suffered his torn Achilles at a worse time.

Going down with the injury during Wild Card weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles effectively meant the veteran weapon would spend the entire offseason recovering and not partaking in offseason activities.

And there was a real chance Kittle could miss most, if not all of his 2026 campaign.

Kittle’s subsequent surgery apparently went well, and the tight end elaborated on it not being a truly invasive procedure that’d add an extensive length to his recovery.

“I had a clean tear,” Kittle told reporters. “They didn’t have to drill into my heel. Where the repair was is where there’s more blood flow. And so, it takes some time off the recovery.”

This likely eliminates worry about Kittle missing all of 2026, but the probability of him missing a significant chunk of the season remains.

Or does it?

Matt Barrows suggests George Kittle returning by Week 1 is definitely in play

In a recent mailback for The Athletic (h/t 49ers Webzone), team insider Matt Barrows expanded on the potential timeline for the All-Pro’s return to the field.

Barrows’ response was optimistic but still realistic, too:

“I don’t think Kittle’s Achilles tendon tear will keep him out for all of or even most of next season. 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).”

The Niners are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, this season. And a Week 1 game seems the likeliest, given the extensive travel required to make it across the Pacific Ocean.

It’s possible Kittle sits out that game even if he’s cleared for Week 1 activity, but even getting the tight end back into the fray by Week 2 would be nothing short of miraculous.

On a related note, San Francisco’s offseason actions in both free agency and the draft should be a pretty good indicator of Kittle’s progress. If another body is brought it to potentially fill in for Kittle atop the depth chart, it’d probably point to a late-season return.

If not, Kittle being back early would certainly be reasonable, as Barrows suggested.