It’s been seven months since George Kittle ruptured his Achilles against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card, and he’s already making significant progress on returning to the field.
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport said he believes Kittle has a strong chance to play in the team’s week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
“I had the opportunity to watch George Kittle do his workout, alongside practice, pre-pracitce; it was eye-popping,” Rapoport said. “It was really good; it was really fast, it was looking like a player who’s basically going full speed.”
Rapoport said that while it usually takes players about nine months to return from an Achilles injury, there is at least “a chance” Kittle could return to the field.
Over the offseason, Kittle has been steadily on track for a speedy recovery from the injury, as the nine-year veteran has been posting videos of himself working out.
Kittle went down with the injury during the middle of the second quarter, after receiving his only reception of the game. After the ball reached his hands, he was bracing to get tackled, but his Achilles immediately popped.
While the 49ers would love to have Kittle available for the first game of the season, the team is prepared to be without him in the game, as Rapoport reported they’re more concerned about having him available when it’s later in the season, when they’re playing for a playoff spot.
“The fact that George Kittle has a realistic chance of playing Week 1, of being out on the field, is incredible; he is not wrong; he’s got a shot,” Rapoport said.
