George Kittle’s Recovery Progress

It’s been over six months since George Kittle injured his Achilles tendon during the wild-card game against the Eagles back in January. But recently, there are positive signs for the 49ers.

A video has emerged of Kittle training with his strength and conditioning coach, Josh Cuthbert. In the footage, he can be seen deadlifting an impressive 665 pounds after using smelling salts—clearly demonstrating that he’s progressing well post-injury.

There’s still some uncertainty around when Kittle will don the 49ers’ uniform again. The general recovery timeline for such injuries can range from nine to twelve months. However, given how Kittle has been pushing through his rehabilitation, it seems he’s ahead of the curve.

Throughout his recovery, he has expressed optimism, stating back in June that his aim is to be fully healthy by the start of the season, particularly for Week 1.

If he manages to recover by September 10, when the 49ers are set to face the Rams in Australia, it will be nearly nine months since his injury.

Although Kittle has faced numerous injuries during his career, he has consistently shown he can perform at a high level. He has dealt with knee, hamstring, ankle, and groin issues but still made a strong impact last season, appearing in 11 games and racking up 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns.

Kittle’s not alone in overcoming challenges this offseason; the 49ers are also eager to see the return of 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Nick Bosa, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Bosa has indicated that he hopes to be back on the field by Week 1 as well.