Feb. 10, 2026, 4:20 p.m. PT<\/p>\n
It looked initially like the San Francisco 49ers<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Kittle provided an update on his Achilles tear at the team’s locker cleanout the day after their loss to the Seattle Seahawks<\/a> in the divisional playoffs. He was optimistic about his recovery<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Now the Athletic’s Matt Barrows is painting an even more optimistic picture<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t think Kittle\u2019s Achilles tendon tear will keep him out for all of or even most of next season,” Barrows wrote. “In fact, he\u2019s aiming to be back by Week 1 (though that seems less likely if the team opens the season with a\u00a016-hour flight to Australia).”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n