What happened: San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is making significant strides in his recovery from a torn right Achilles sustained during the 2025-26 postseason. Kittle has officially resumed high-impact training, including box jumps and sprinting, recently hitting a top speed of 16 MPH during rehabilitation drills.
Why it matters: A healthy Kittle is vital for the 49ers' 2026 campaign as they integrate new arrival Mike Evans into the passing game. He is currently on track for the Week 1 season opener in Australia, which will mark his first game action since the injury.
By the numbers: Kittle enters the 2026 season with 8,008 career receiving yards and 52 touchdowns. He trails Vernon Davis by three touchdowns for the franchise tight end record and has recorded 595 career receptions.
What to watch: The 49ers will monitor Kittle's progress through the remainder of the offseason program as he nears full clearance for training camp.