George Kittle 'Ahead of Schedule' on Achilles, Eyes Week 1 in Australia
The 49ers TE is reportedly ahead of schedule after an encouraging visit with his surgeon, giving him a real shot at the Melbourne opener.
Draft him as a TE1, but track his PUP status right up to Week 1.
- Torn Achilles suffered in January wild-card win
- 57 rec, 628 yds, 7 TD in 11 games (2025)
- 162 PPR points, our TE13 in 2025
- Currently on the 49ers' PUP list
- Recently deadlifted 665 lbs in rehab
George Kittle's recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in San Francisco's January wild-card win over Philadelphia is reportedly running ahead of schedule, and that changes the math for anyone circling him on draft day. Per reporting from Adam Schefter, Kittle visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache — the surgeon who repaired the Achilles in January — in Los Angeles this week, and it was described as an encouraging checkup that gives the 32-year-old a legitimate shot at the Week 1 opener against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
That's a big deal for a player who tallied 57 catches on 69 targets for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns across just 11 games in 2025. Kittle remains on the 49ers' PUP list for now, but the trajectory is trending the right way — a month ago he was filmed deadlifting 665 pounds, which is not the résumé of a tight end easing his way back.
Why the Timeline Matters
Achilles returns are notoriously unpredictable, and the fact that Kittle is even in the Week 1 conversation this early is the encouraging part. He's entering his 10th season, all with San Francisco, with 595 career catches for 8,008 yards and 52 touchdowns. This isn't a guy learning a system — if the leg holds, the production returns almost immediately.
The one wrinkle is the venue. San Francisco opens in Melbourne, which means Kittle has to be cleared and travel-ready for an international trip rather than easing into a home game. A PUP designation right now leaves the door open to a slow start, so don't fully bank on the opener until he's officially activated.
The Fantasy Fallout
Kittle finished as our TE13 in 2025 with 162 PPR points despite missing six games — elite per-game value squeezed into a shortened sample. He's our No. 102 overall player heading into 2026, and this news only firms up his stock. If he's healthy, he's a weekly TE1 in a passing game that runs through him.
The play here is WATCH, leaning aggressive. Draft Kittle as your starting tight end at his current cost, but do it knowing he's on PUP and monitor his activation over the next two weeks. If he's cleared for Melbourne, you've got a top-five upside TE at a slight discount. If the opener slips, you'll want a cheap bye-week bridge on your bench just in case.
