Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that he expects Kittle (calf) to return for the 49ers' Week 9 game against the Cardinals, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Kittle payed through a sore calf Week 4 versus the Seahawks before landing on injured reserve prior to Week 5. An IR stint required him to sit out at least three games, the third of which will come this Sunday at Chicago. As a result, the 49ers can open his 21-day practice window to return from the reserve list next week, and it appears the team will do just that with the anticipation Kittle will be available for the Nov. 7 game versus Arizona. In the meantime, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley will continue to cover tight end for San Francisco for one more week.