"There's a high level of confidence" that 49ers TE George Kittle will be able to play Week 1, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Kittle is still only about seven months removed from tearing his right Achilles, but his rehab has seemingly been ahead of schedule for a while now.
What They're Saying:
Zenitz: "Kittle continues to make terrific progress working back from the torn Achilles he suffered in January and there’s a high level of confidence at this point that he’ll end up being able to play Week 1 vs. the Rams."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Kittle's Projection On The Move
Kittle said back in June that he was aiming to play Week 1, and he seems to have a chance to hit that goal. He remains on the active PUP list for now, but video from Monday's practice showed him cutting hard and sprinting at close to full speed.
Video of Kittle working out off to the side at 49ers training camp
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 11, 2026
@TheSFNiners
pic.twitter.com/9ZjiqloE3Y
The season opener being in Australia adds another variable to Kittle's status. That's a long trip for a player coming off a serious injury. The 'Niners host the Dolphins in Week 2.
We'll keep tracking Kittle's progress and the team's plans for him, but we're increasing his projection from 15 to 16 games.
