Kittle eyes return to practice, opener in Australia
Kittle eyes return to practice, opener in Australia --> Skip to main content Skip to navigation MenuESPN scores NFLNBAMLBSoccerWNBANHLNCAAFMore SportsBoxingNCAACricketF1GamingGolfHorseLLWSMMANASCARNLLNBA G LeagueNBA Summer LeagueNCAAMNCAAWNWSLOlympicsPLLRacingRN BBRN FBRugbyBananasSports BettingTGLTennisUFLMen's World CupWWEProfessional WrestlingEditionsWhere to WatchFantasyWatch NFLHomeScoresScheduleStandingsStatsTeamsOddsFantasy FootballWhere To WatchDepth ChartsInjuriesTransactionsDraftOddsFree AgencyCoachesPlayoff BracketSuper BowlFootball Power IndexFuturesPlayersScheduleWeekly LeadersTotal QBRNFL HistorySuper Bowl WinnersTickets Kittle eyes return to practice, opener in AustraliaSan Francisco 49ers12mNick WagonerBears activate LT Trapilo (knee) off PUP listChicago Bears18mCourtney CroninMcVay: No 'invisible deadline' on Donald decisionLos Angeles Rams8hRandle El takes reins, sparking Bears' 24-0 runChicago Bears17hCourtney CroninMonken thrilled with Watson's 'awesome' 1st halfChicago Bears23hDaniel OyefusiDart 'puzzled' by latest concussion test requestNew York Giants22hJordan RaananRams QB Simpson shines in 2-TD preseason debutLos Angeles Rams21hSarah BarshopMatt Bowen's favorite targets: 20 players to consider at all levels of your draft3dMatt BowenKarabell's 'Do Draft' list: Henry, Mahomes among undervalued players to pick1dEric KarabellFantasy football Cheat Sheet Central2dESPN FantasyFive Patriots who stood out in the first preseason game vs. the ColtsNew England Patriots11hMike ReissWhy the Titans believe Brian Daboll can maximize Cam Ward's potentialTennessee Titans11hTurron Davenport'This is beautifully done': See inside the new Highmark Stadium as Bills practice and fans take it inBuffalo Bills4dAlaina GetzenbergSolak's NFL training camp superlatives: 10 awards, including 'most likely to succeed with a new offense'Los Angeles Chargers2dBen SolakNFL training camp updates: Camp standouts and key questions for all 32 teams3dNFL Nation12 colleges stacked with NFL draft talent: Why scouts will be eyeing Miami and Texas this seasonOhio State Buckeyes2dJordan ReidMets troll Jayden Daniels over No. 5 dispute after beating NationalsWashington Commanders23hESPNOrlovsky's annual QB trait rankings: Which NFL passers make the top 10 in seven different skills?Buffalo Bills3dDan Orlovsky'MVP adapter': Inside Lamar Jackson's adjustments to Ravens' new offenseBaltimore Ravens3dJamison HensleyNFL preseason on NFL Network, ESPN: How to watch, schedule16dESPN49ers' George Kittle eyes return to practice, opener in AustraliaNick WagonerAug 16, 2026, 04:46 PM ETCloseNick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSANTA CLARA, Calif. -- With 17 days until the flight that will take the San Francisco 49ers to Australia, tight end George Kittle, who suffered a torn right Achilles in January, still maintains hope that he'll be ready to board that airplane and play in the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10. Kittle on Sunday said it's still possible that he will be back on the practice field soon. "I have a chance," Kittle said while speaking to Bay Area media for about 15 minutes. "We're running around a lot, hitting top speeds. Hopefully we're back in pads practicing sooner than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumbass." By that, Kittle means he must stick to the tedious rehabilitation process that has had him eyeing a Week 1 return almost since sustaining the injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11. As Kittle explained Sunday, any deviation from the plan he got from Dr. Neal ElAttrache and his staff could throw a wrench in his efforts to get back on the field as soon as possible. That recovery plan, according to Kittle, is "the most boring rehab in the entire world." Niners tight end George Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles in January, said he's “pretty close” to hitting the same speed numbers he hit before the injury and hopes to be able to practice "sooner than later." AP Photo/Kelley L. CoxFor most of it, Kittle said he has had to focus on doing as many seated and standing calf raises as possible every day. His workouts, however, have taken on a more football-specific approach of late. As the Niners practiced last week, Kittle was running and cutting at nearly full speed as he ran routes and caught passes from a team staffer on a side field. On Sunday, Kittle said he's hitting the speed benchmarks set for him on the GPS and is "pretty close" to hitting the same speed numbers he hit before the injury. Kittle said he has a target date in mind for returning to practice but declined to share it, again saying it would be "sooner than later." He did, however, add that he's "very confident" he won't start the season on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he intends to be back within the season's first four games. Kittle's quick recovery has been a source of inspiration for teammates and coaches who have marveled at how fast he's gotten up to speed. Kittle reiterated Sunday that Dr. ElAttrache telling him right away he could be back for Week 1 if he did everything right, made it "pretty easy to light a fire every single day." "[It's] relentless positivity from George, like always," offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said. "That's how he lives his life. It's how he goes about his every day. And you got to appreciate that about him. And to me, that's what's going to make him get back from his injury and be himself again is because he has the right mindset. "He attacks every day with positivity that he's progressing and he's healing. And just in seeing him out there just with the trainers working out, he looks great. And I'm excited to see kind of how he progresses over these next few weeks." According to Kittle, a decision on his status for Week 1 likely would come before the team leaves for Melbourne on Sept. 2. That would prevent Kittle from unnecessarily taking the long flight for a game he'd miss. "I would assume so," Kittle said. "That probably makes the most sense." Kittle said he feels good now, but he acknowledged that getting back to playing football is different than simply working out. "I want to play in every football game that I possibly can play in, but I'm also aware it's an 18-week season," Kittle said. "If you miss Week 1 and you're playing Week 2, hey, it is what it is. ... I'm just going to keep that as my goal and then we'll adjust from there if we need to. But I still believe that. My team still believes that. My surgeon still believes I have a chance. So just keep attacking it."
Source: ESPN
This article has been carefully curated and reformatted for educational and informational purposes. Full credit goes to the original publisher.
📚 Visit more helpful articles on Joab Peters Blog
No comments