49ers' George Kittle: Eyeing expedited return from injury
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Kittle said Monday that the right Achilles surgery he underwent last week went as well as possible, and the tight end said he expects to return to action "well before November" during the 2026 season, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Though a more definitive target date for his return won't become apparent until he's further along in the rehab process, Kittle is optimistic that he'll face a shorter recovery timeline than most players because he suffered a clear tear near the soleus muscle. Since that muscle is located higher up on the Achilles and he didn't need surgery on his heel, Kittle said that his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, termed the procedure as a "best-case scenario." Kittle still appears likely to open training camp on a reserve list while he recovers, but he's not closing the door on being ready to play by Week 1, when he would be approximately eight months removed from surgery.
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49ers' George Kittle: Officially placed on IR
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The 49ers placed Kittle (Achilles) on injured reserve Wednesday.
This is merely a procedural move after Kittle was diagnosed with a torn right Achilles following this past Sunday's wild-card victory in Philadelphia. Coach Kyle Shanahan announced Tuesday that Kittle was slated for surgery Wednesday, after which point his rehab will start in earnest. Considering the timing of the injury and the expected lengthy recovery timeline, Kittle appears destined to miss a decent portion of the 2026 season. As for the 49ers' current playoff run, Jake Tonges will be the biggest beneficiary as a pass catcher among the remaining tight ends, but Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis also are on hand for snaps and targets.
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49ers' George Kittle: Torn Achilles confirmed
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Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed after Sunday's 23-19 wild-card win over the Eagles that Kittle tore his Achilles during the game, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Kittle exited in the first half due to an Achilles injury. The 49ers found a way to advance after losing their star tight end due to injury, but the diagnosis of a torn Achilles means Kittle won't rejoin his teammates on the field during their playoff run, as Kittle will face a recovery timeline of more than six months. He may not be available for the start of the 2026 regular season.
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49ers' George Kittle: Exits Sunday's game
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Kittle was carted off the field during Sunday's playoff game against the Eagles after sustaining an apparent lower-leg injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Per Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area, Kittle reached for his right lower leg after being tackled prior to his exit from the contest. At first glance, this doesn't look good for the tight end, with added context set to arrive once the 49ers make an official injury announcement.
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49ers' George Kittle: Cleared to play
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Kittle (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's wild-card game at Philadelphia, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle played 95 percent of snaps Week 18, returning from a one-game absence for the 13-3 loss to Seattle. He'll likely handle an every-down role again this weekend against another one of the NFC's top defenses.
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49ers' George Kittle: Limited Wednesday
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KIttle (ankle) practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
After missing a Week 17 win against the Bears due to a mid-to-low-ankle sprain, Kittle was back in action this past Saturday against the Seahawks, logging 95 percent of the snaps on his way to five catches (on seven targets) for 29 yards. He continues to deal with the injury in the wake of that loss, but he at least will have two more opportunities to log a full practice this week before the 49ers potentially tag him with a designation for Sunday's wild-card game at Philadelphia.
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49ers' George Kittle: One long catch
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Kittle recorded five receptions on seven targets for 29 yards in Saturday's 13-3 loss to the Seahawks.
Kittle returned from a one-game absence and tied for the team lead in targets. His only impactful play was a 20-yard catch early in the fourth quarter, though his lack of production was more a product of the 49ers' overall struggles rather than his own. Kittle battled multiple lower-body injuries throughout the regular season, though he ended the campaign with at least seven targets and five receptions in each of his last three games.
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49ers' George Kittle: Status in question for Saturday
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Kittle (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game versus the Seahawks, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle has been tending to a mid-to-low ankle sprain that sidelined him Week 17 against the Bears, but after logging back-to-back limited sessions to kick off Week 18 prep and then telling Vic Tafur of The Athletic on Wednesday that he "absolutely" expects to play this weekend, he appears to be trending in the right direction to suit up. Ultimately, Kittle's status will be confirmed about 90 minutes before an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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49ers' George Kittle: Stays limited at practice
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Kittle (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Kittle missed the 49ers' Week 17 win against the Bears due to a mid-to-low ankle sprain that he suffered one week prior at Indianapolis. He maintained his activity level from Tuesday, and GM John Lynch relayed to Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News on Wednesday that Kittle and other key 49ers were trending toward suiting up Saturday versus the Seahawks. Kittle himself told Vic Tafur of The Athletic that he "absolutely" expects to play this weekend, but Thursday's injury report will reveal whether or not he has a designation for Week 18 action.
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49ers' George Kittle: Will be limited Tuesday
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Kittle (ankle) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
Kittle sat out all three of the 49ers' practices last week due to a left ankle sprain before ultimately missing this past Sunday's 42-38 win over the Bears. His return to the field Tuesday would seem to give Kittle a decent chance of returning for Saturday's regular-season finale versus the Seahawks. In Kittle's absence against Chicago, Jake Tonges played 69 percent of the offensive snaps and produced a useful 7-60-1 receiving line on nine targets.
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49ers' George Kittle: Officially inactive in Week 17
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Kittle (ankle) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Bears, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
Kittle came out of last Monday's win at Indianapolis with a mid-to-low ankle sprain, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. The health concern didn't allow Kittle to practice in any capacity during Week 17 prep, with GM John Lynch (via KNBR San Francisco) and coach Kyle Shanahan (per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com) implying Friday that the veteran tight end's status would come down to a game-time decision. Adam Schefter of ESPN then reported Sunday morning that Kittle was "highly unlikely" to suit up, and his lack of availability now has been confirmed. Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell will split TE duties in Kittle's absence, with the former more likely to contribute as a pass catcher.
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49ers' George Kittle: Likely to be game-time decision
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San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Friday that the status of Kittle (ankle) for Sunday night's game against the Bears will likely be a game-dime decision, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle was listed as a non-participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday's injury report will both reveal whether he was able to get on the field as at least a limited participant, and his official injury diagnosis for Week 17. That said, it seems likely that Kittle will garner a 'questionable' designation for Sunday Night Football. The star tight end's status will be made official, one way or another, no later than 90 minutes before Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff. Jake Tonges will stand to operate as San Francisco's top pass-catching tight end in the event that Kittle is ruled out, presenting fantasy managers with a potential pivot option.
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49ers' George Kittle: Remains DNP on Thursday
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Kittle (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's injury report, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Kittle now has gone down as a DNP on both the 49ers' practice reports since he left Monday's win at Indianapolis in the third quarter due to a left ankle injury and wasn't able to return. He's reportedly dealing with a mid-to-low ankle sprain, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, and Kittle has one more chance to mix into drills Friday before San Francisco potentially makes a ruling on his status for Sunday's game against the Bears. Jake Tonges would be the favorite to step into a pass-catching role among the team's remaining tight ends if Kittle is inhibited or sidelined Week 17.
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49ers' George Kittle: No practice Wednesday
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle (ankle) won't practice Wednesday but "has a chance" to play Sunday against the Bears, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle was tackled awkwardly on his seventh and final catch in the middle of the third quarter of Monday's win at Indianapolis and wasn't able to return. Shanahan told Wagoner afterward that it was too early to touch on the severity of Kittle's ankle injury before Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Tuesday that Kittle was tending to a mid-to-low ankle sprain. Kittle doesn't necessarily need to practice in order to be active Sunday against the Bears, but his chances to play Week 17 would increase if he's able to mix into drills at some point Thursday or Friday. Jake Tonges likely would step into the pass-catching role in the 49ers offense if Kittle isn't able to suit up this weekend.
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49ers' George Kittle: Avoids high-ankle sprain
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Kittle was diagnosed with a low-to-mid-grade left ankle sprain following an MRI on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
After he was forced out of Monday's 48-27 win over the Colts in the middle of the third quarter with the injury, Kittle said that he believed that he had avoided a high-ankle sprain, and follow-up tests have confirmed that's indeed the case. Though he isn't facing a long-term injury, the star tight end could still be at risk of missing a game Sunday versus the Bears that has important playoff-positioning implications at stake. Before departing late in the third quarter Monday, Kittle still delivered for his fantasy managers, posting seven catches for a season-high 115 yards and a touchdown on eight targets.
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49ers' George Kittle: Severity of ankle injury TBD
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San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said after Monday's 48-27 win against the Colts that it's too early to know the severity of Kittle's ankle injury, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kittle missed all of the fourth quarter and some of the third due to the ankle issue, and the outcome of the contest wasn't certain until late, so it appears there's at least some chance the star tight end will miss next Sunday's game against Chicago. With that said, further evaluation is needed to determine how serious of an issue Kittle is dealing with, and he will likely do everything he can to play next week given that there is a lot at stake for San Francisco against the Bears. Despite his early exit Monday, Kittle did plenty for fantasy managers who started him, amassing 115 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Jake Tonges was effective as the 49ers' pass-catching tight end following Kittle's departure and would be a viable fantasy asset in Week 17 if Kittle is forced to sit out.
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49ers' George Kittle: Leading receiver on MNF
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Kittle finished with six receptions (on 10 targets) for 78 yards in Monday's 20-9 victory over the Panthers.
Kittle finished Monday's primetime tilt as the game's leading receiver off a season-high 10 targets. The 31-year-old has really found his groove since going catchless in his return from a hamstring injury Week 7, providing fantasy managers with a 29-304-4 receiving line over his last five starts. Kittle may be asked to utilize his elite blocking skills more than usual Week 13 in order to help the offensive line deal with the unstoppable force that is DE Myles Garrett when the 49ers visit the Browns on Sunday.
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49ers' George Kittle: Carries over hot play from Week 10
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Kittle hauled in all six of his targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 41-22 rout of the Cardinals.
Kittle welcomed back starting quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) with literal open arms, getting wide open in the end zone on two separate occasions. The talented duo picked up right where it left off when the teammates last played together back in Week 1, when Kittle hit pay dirt before suffering a hamstring injury that would land the tight end on injured reserve. The 31-year-old Kittle was already coming off of a season-best performance against the Rams in Week 10 (9-84-1), with Sunday's two-score day officially putting the fantasy stud on a hot streak. Kittle will attempt to one-up himself against the Panthers under the bright lights of Monday Night Football in Week 12.
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49ers' George Kittle: Best fantasy game this season
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Kittle secured all nine of his targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-26 loss to the Rams.
It took a one-sided loss to do it, but Kittle finally produced the kind of stat line managers were hoping for when selecting the tight end early in drafts. The star tight end has chipped in with three touchdown catches across five active games, with Sunday's output marking the first time he surpassed four receptions or 43 receiving yards. The injury-riddled 49ers may need to rely on Kittle's receiving abilities in order to remain a threat down the stretch.
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49ers' George Kittle: Commemorates 'holiday' with TD
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Kittle brought in four of five targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' 26-15 loss to the Texans on Sunday.
Kittle commemorated the National Tight End Day quasi-holiday he helped bring about by recording his second touchdown of the season on a 17-yard grab just before halftime. Kittle had been shut out altogether in his Week 7 return from a hamstring injury, so Sunday's production was a particularly welcome sight for fantasy managers and included a new season-high yardage total for the veteran tight end. Kittle draws another favorable matchup irrespective of who his quarterback is when the 49ers face the Giants on the road in Week 9.
