George Kittle Eyeing Early-Season Return
It was assumed that George Kittle‘s Achilles injury would sideline him for a significant chunk of the 2026 campaign. However, the 49ers tight end is confident he’ll be back much earlier thanks to a “best-case scenario” tear.
[RELATED: 49ers’ George Kittle Suffers Torn Achilles]
Speaking to reporters today, Kittle discussed last week’s injury and the subsequent surgery, noting that doctors confirmed the team’s assessment that he suffered a “clean tear” near his soleus, which is located higher on his Achilles tendon.
“They didn’t have to drill into my heel,” Kittle said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “And where the repair was, there’s more blood flow. And so it takes some time off the recovery time. So he’s very excited about everything. My recovery — when I’ll be running, when I’ll be ready to go play again — he’s very excited about it. So that puts me in a really good mood. It’s not as bad as other ones.”
Kittle wouldn’t commit to a definitive timeline, teasing that it would ultimately be a “surprise.” However, the tight end did acknowledge that he expects to be back before November, and he even hinted that he could push for a Week 1 return. As Branch notes, the latter scenario would require an eight-month recovery, which isn’t completely unfounded. Branch cites the roughly six-month recoveries for Michael Crabtree and Cam Akers, as well as Ben Roethlisberger‘s three-month turnaround (although the QB wasn’t cleared to play).
For further intrigue, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this past weekend that Kittle had also undergone a “SpeedBridge repair,” which carries a bit more risk but should get him back on the field sooner (via Alex Simon of SFGate.com). The player was operated on by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team physician for the Rams and Dodgers. ElAttrache has also operated on the likes of Nick Bosa (twice), Tom Brady, and Kobe Bryant.
Kittle suffered the injury in the second quarter of San Francisco’s wild-card victory over the Eagles. The tight end said he felt pain when he planted his right foot in anticipation of a tackle, and he immediately knew what injury he had suffered
49ers Designate Fred Warner For Return
JANUARY 15: As expected, Warner will not play against the Seahawks. Shanahan confirmed (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) the 49ers will not activate the star linebacker from IR this week. Warner’s chance to return would come if San Francisco pulls an upset Saturday.
JANUARY 13: Fred Warner‘s lengthy onramp to a potential playoff cameo will pass a key mile marker Tuesday. Warner is returning to 49ers practice.
The 49ers are designating the All-Pro linebacker for return, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes. A reemergence in Saturday’s divisional-round game is not expected, per Wagoner, but a comeback for a potential NFC championship game is in play.
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]
Sidelined with a fractured and dislocated ankle since mid-October, Warner has made considerable progress. Rumblings about a potential return before season’s end surfaced soon after. As recently as early December, however, it was considered unlikely. Two weeks ago, however, the prospect of Warner coming back gained steam. He progressed to running on a side field last week, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes.
Snake-bitten by injuries yet again, the 49ers finished their wild-card win in Philadelphia down three first-team All-Pros. Nick Bosa has been out for months and is not coming back. George Kittle went down during the game with an Achilles tear; Kittle has already undergone surgery, per Kyle Shanahan. Warner has not played since Week 6. Still, the 49ers found a way to win, rallying behind Christian McCaffrey — who missed most of last season before returning in full force this year — and a returning Trent Williams to eliminate the defending champion Eagles.
The 49ers played the Eagles without others at linebacker. The team suited up for its wild-card assignment without starters Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune. Warner’s primary replacement, Bethune is out for the remainder of the season. Winters played all 17 regular-season games but missed the wild-card outing with an ankle injury. With Warner not set to come off IR until at least next week — should the 49ers pull an upset in Seattle — Winters’ status this week will be something to closely monitor. Garret Wallow, who began the season with the the Broncos, and Eric Kendricks — an 11th-year veteran who had committed to the 49ers in 2024 only to reconsider and join the Cowboys — played extensively Sunday and would be in line to do so again if Winters cannot go against the Seahawks.
Following Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in becoming a perennial All-Pro as a San Francisco linebacker, Warner landed his second extension this offseason. The 49ers gave their dominant second-level defender a three-year, $63MM deal. As injuries have hounded the team in most years, Warner had been the constant, staying on the field and establishing a Hall of Fame-caliber resume by soaring to four All-Pro first teams. Warner, 29, had missed only one career game coming into this season. He played through a leg fracture in 2024. He will now attempt a return to action after a serious injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/26
Four playoff teams made minor moves on Tuesday. Here’s a look:
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from IR: TE Lucas Krull
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Nick Hampton
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: TE George Kittle (story)
- Signed from practice squad: TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from IR: ILB Chazz Surratt
In the wake of Kittle’s season-ending Achilles tear, the 49ers are calling on Willis to serve as depth behind Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Willis, a 2023 seventh-round pick from Oklahoma, has appeared in 23 games with the 49ers in three seasons. He played in six of the 49ers’ regular-season contests in 2025 and logged 98 of his 111 snaps on special teams.
Surratt, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 12, missed the Seahawks’ last six games of the regular season. He got an extra week to recover after top-seeded Seattle earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. With the Seahawks preparing to host the 49ers in a divisional round matchup Saturday, Surratt could return to action. The 28-year-old wasn’t a factor on defense in the regular season, but he posted a 40% snap share on special teams. Surratt finished second among Seahawks special teamers in tackles (11).
49ers’ George Kittle Suffers Torn Achilles
Late in the first half of the 49ers wild-card matchup with the Eagles, tight end George Kittle went down with a non-contact injury and was carted off the field. Instant replays of the injury made speculation all but certain, and the team confirmed shortly after, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, that Kittle had officially torn his Achilles tendon. 
Kittle’s 2025 campaign was already a difficult one as he dealt with multiple injuries, and as it comes to an early end, that end threatens to ruin his 2026 season, as well. Coming fresh off a four-year, $76.4MM offseason extension, Kittle hit the ground running in the team’s season opener, quickly scoring San Francisco’s first touchdown of the year. In the third quarter of the game, though, Kittle left with a hamstring injury and would miss the next five games on injured reserve with hamstring injury.
Upon being activated from IR in Week 7, Kittle quickly returned to form, really catching fire from Week 10 on. His momentum hit a slight speed bump when an ankle injury disrupted a dominant performance in Indianapolis and forced him to sit out the 49ers penultimate game of the regular season. He was able to return for a Week 18 home loss to the Seahawks and looked primed to help his offense into the postseason.
Despite all the hardship he’s worked through this year, today’s soft tissue injury is the worst news he could’ve heard all season. Not only because Achilles tendon tears can take between nine months and a full year to recover, but also because the injury has come at nearly the latest possible point of the season.
Now, there are exceptions to the rule. There’s the famous Aaron Rodgers example, in which the former Jets quarterback attempted to return from the same injury after only three months. He was successfully activated from IR within the 18 weeks of the regular season, but New York held him out and did not let him return to the field that year. More recently, the Ravens saw safety Ar’Darius Washington tear his Achilles tendon in May. He, too, set his sights on a late-season return and was activated from IR seven months later.
If Kittle can replicate Washington’s recovery timeline, there’s a chance he may be able to return sometime during training camp and be available for the season opener. Otherwise, Kittle is likely to open the 2026 NFL season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and could miss the first month or so of next year. At the moment, though, it’s disappointment for San Francisco, whose 2025 campaign is not yet over. Injuries have defined this season for the 49ers, and Kittle’s torn Achilles is just the latest on the list for this resilient team.
49ers’ Trent Williams Out For Week 18; George Kittle Plans To Play
5:40PM: As the 49ers prepare to take on the Seahawks for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they will officially be doing so without Williams. San Francisco listed him as one of their inactive players for tonight’s game.
10:59AM: It appears the 49ers will go without future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams in their pivotal regular-season finale against the Seahawks on Saturday. Williams, who suffered a hamstring injury in a win over the Bears last Sunday, did not practice this week. That suggests he won’t take the field with the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference on the line, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says.
If Williams sits Saturday, it’ll prevent the 37-year-old from logging his first 17-game campaign. A career-long starter since entering the NFL as a first-round pick (No. 4) with Washington in 2010, Williams has earned his 12th Pro Bowl nod this season. He’s Pro Football Focus’ third-ranked tackle out of 86 qualifiers.
It’s obviously less than ideal for the 49ers to go without Williams, but they pulled off a thrilling 42-38 win in Week 17 despite his absence. Williams played one snap before exiting, leaving Austen Pleasants to take over for the rest of the game. The fourth-year man will make the first start of his career Saturday if Williams is unavailable. It’ll be a tall order against a Seattle defense that ranks second in scoring, fifth in yards and eighth in sacks.
In better news for the 49ers, seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle said he “absolutely” plans to play in Week 18 (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Kittle, a limited participant in practice this week, missed the Chicago game with an ankle issue, continuing an injury-riddled year for him.
After suffering a right hamstring tear in a Week 1 victory in Seattle, Kittle spent over a month on IR. The 32-year-old has appeared in just 10 of 16 games this season, but when healthy enough to play, he has continued to post superb production. Kittle has hauled in 52 of 62 targets for 599 yards and seven touchdowns. Adding in Kittle’s blocking prowess, he’s PFF’s No. 1-ranked tight end among 75 qualifiers.
The 49ers have overcome a slew of notable injuries this year en route to a 12-4 record. While the team remains banged up, there’s only one more hurdle to clear to ensure homefield advantage through the playoffs. If the 49ers complete the season sweep of the Seahawks at home, they won’t go on the road again. That includes the Super Bowl, where the 49ers will host the AFC champion at Levi’s Stadium if they survive the NFC onslaught in January.
49ers Notes: Kittle, Williams, Warner, WRs
Trent Williams missed almost all of the 49ers’ 42-38 win, going down with a hamstring injury sustained as he attempted to make a tackle on Brock Purdy‘s first-play pick-six. The future Hall of Fame left tackle is undergoing tests today, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. While this injury does not appear set to move Williams to IR, Rapoport points to a Week 18 absence being likely. The 49ers, after all, somewhat surprisingly (given their Seattle matchup’s importance) drew a short-week assignment for their regular-season finale.
Although the 49ers’ most notable injuries have involved season-enders (or apparent season-enders in Fred Warner‘s case), this heightens the importance of the team earning the NFC’s bye slot. Williams and George Kittle having recovery weeks would certainly be beneficial to this unlikely Super Bowl contender’s quest.
Here is the latest out of San Francisco:
- After three DNPs last week, Kittle missed the 49ers’ shootout win over the Bears. Swelling in the All-Pro tight end’s injured ankle prevented him from conducting a planned pregame workout, according to NBC’s Melissa Stark, leading to the Week 17 shutdown. Kittle, who came off IR earlier this season following a hamstring injury, expects to play in the 49ers’ Week 18 matchup. Charting the likely Hall of Famer’s practice log will be key, but Kittle appears to be readying to be available when the team matches up with the Seahawks for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.
- Warner’s comeback remains a talking point. Despite suffering a dislocated ankle in Week 6, the All-Pro linebacker said during NBC’s pregame show he has “a chance” to come back during the playoffs. No divisional-round return is expected, with Rapoport adding Warner’s earliest return point would likely come if the 49ers advance to the NFC championship game. This aligns with recent reporting on the linebacker’s recovery. This is generally a four- to six-month injury; as recently as late November, Kyle Shanahan said he did not expect Warner back until the 2026 season. But Rapoport points to the eighth-year defender returning in a partial role as a viable scenario should the 49ers’ season extend into late January.
- The 49ers have used five of their eight regular-season injury activations. In decent shape here, the 12-4 team will receive two more activations once the playoffs begin. One of those figures to go to Jacob Cowing, who has missed the entire season. Shanahan said Cowing — a 2024 fourth-round pick — was close to practicing in Week 17; the ninth-year HC expects Cowing’s IR-return window to open this week, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes. That would make Cowing, who has lingered on IR since late August due to a nagging hamstring injury, eligible to be activated ahead of Week 18. Cowing caught four passes for 80 yards last season.
- One of the wideouts the 49ers have needed to rely on due to the injuries to Cowing, Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings this season — one also featuring a Brandon Aiyuk no-show — Kendrick Bourne reached an incentive during the 49ers’ Week 16 win over the Colts. Returning to the 49ers in September following a Patriots release, Bourne triggered a $500K incentive by surpassing 500 receiving yards, Stark noted (h/t Awful Announcing). Bourne has 551 yards; he can earn another $250K bump by reaching 600.
49ers Activate TE George Kittle From IR
As the 49ers say goodbye to one star, they’ll welcome another. Opening a spot on the 53-man roster by officially placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve, San Francisco will fill it with the activation of tight end George Kittle from IR. Kittle is joined as an IR activation by defensive tackle Kevin Givens.
After suffering a full tear of his right hamstring in a Week 1 win over the Seahawks, Kittle sat out five games – the second-highest total of his career. The six-time Pro Bowler will return to an offense that will go without starting quarterback Brock Purdy for the third straight game. With Purdy dealing with a toe injury, Mac Jones will lead the 4-2 Niners against the 3-2 Falcons on Sunday.
The multi-game absences of Kittle and Purdy have been among several injury-related setbacks for San Francisco’s offense this year. The defense also hasn’t been spared. Star pass rusher Nick Bosa went down with a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3. The unit took a similarly brutal shot when Warner dislocated and fractured his ankle in a loss to the Buccaneers last week. The four-time Pro Bowler underwent surgery and will miss the rest of the regular season. A playoff return for Warner is an extreme long shot.
With Warner out of commission, Tatum Bethune will face a gargantuan task in replacing one of the game’s preeminent defenders. Bethune, a seventh-round pick in 2024, has only made one start in 17 career games. Out of 134 snaps this year, just 48 have come on defense. Bethune has otherwise worked on special teams.
While San Francisco’s defense has lost Warner, it’s getting some D-line depth back with Givens set to make his season debut. Givens hasn’t played in 2025 as a result of a pectoral injury. The seventh-year 49er totaled 3.5 sacks and six QB hits in eight games last season.
In addition to the IR transactions, San Francisco announced that defensive end Trevis Gipson has been signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Joining him for the weekend as standard gameday practice squad elevations will be wide receiver Malik Turner and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj. To make room for Gipson on the active roster, the 49ers waived tight Brayden Willis.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
49ers To Activate George Kittle, Rule Out Brock Purdy
The 49ers ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy for Week 7, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, meaning that Mac Jones will make his fifth start of the season.
Purdy was still limited in practice this week due to a re-aggravation of his toe injury. Jones, meanwhile, progressed to full participation despite dealing with knee and oblique injuries. He has led the 49ers to a 3-1 record in his four starts with a league-high 313 passing yards per game.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan also said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that tight end George Kittle would be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s game, ending his four-game absence due to a Week 1 hamstring injury. Kittle is not expected to be on any kind of snap count, according to Tafur.
San Francisco created the space for Kittle’s activation on Friday by placing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve, per Wagoner. The eight-year veteran will now be on the shelf for at least four games with a calf injury and becomes the latest 49ers wideout to miss time. Ricky Pearsall has been out for the last two games with a knee issue that will sideline him for Sunday’s contest as well. Jacob Cowing is on IR, though Shanahan said (via Wagoner) that he is “getting close” to returning to practice. Jauan Jennings has missed two games and played through four others with a litany of injuries. That’s not even mentioning Brandon Aiyuk, who will not be back until November at the earliest.
Kittle’s return will obviously go a long way in relieving the pressure on the 49ers’ injured receiving corps. Backup tight end Jake Tonges has performed well in his absence, giving Shanahan the options of using more two-tight end formations until the rest of his offense gets healthier.
Shanahan also said that defensive tackle Kevin Givens will “most likely” be activated from IR as well, which would add depth to a defensive line that has also dealt with a number of injuries this year. The 49ers can easily create a roster spot for Givens by placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve after an ankle injury that is expected to end his season.
Mac Jones Likely To Start Week 7; George Kittle Plans To Return
It appears 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones will make his third straight start in place of Brock Purdy in Week 7. While Jones has been dealing with knee and oblique issues, he was able to practice in full on Thursday. With Purdy limited because of a nagging toe injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Jones will “most likely” start against the Falcons on Sunday (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).
After playing 31 of a possible 34 regular-season games from 2023-24, Purdy has already sat out four times this year. He started a season-opening win over the Seahawks and a Week 4 loss to the Jaguars. The offseason decision to sign Jones, a former Patriot and Jaguar, has helped the injury-plagued 49ers stay afloat during a 4-2 start.
While Jones struggled in a loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday, the 49ers have gone 3-1 with him at the helm. The 27-year-old has connected on 67.3% of passes for 1,252 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Jones’ success has come without six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, who’s among the Niners’ many walking wounded, but that could change Sunday. Kittle suffered a right hamstring injury in Week 1 – a “full tear,” he revealed – leading the 49ers to place him on IR. After missing five consecutive games, Kittle returned to practice on Wednesday. He took part in his second limited session in a row Thursday and expressed confidence about his chances of facing the Falcons.
“I fully plan on playing on Sunday,” Kittle said, though he acknowledged that Shanahan will make the call (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com).
While Jones may count Kittle among his weapons for the first time on Sunday, he could go without wide receiver Ricky Pearsall again. After missing San Francisco’s past two games with a knee injury, the second-year man has not returned to practiced this week.
49ers Open George Kittle’s Practice Window
Star tight end George Kittle has been on IR since Sept. 9, but he’s finally nearing a return. The 49ers opened Kittle’s practice window on Wednesday, according to Clayton Holloway of NFL Network. They’ll have 21 days to activate him.
Kittle, who suffered a hamstring injury in a Week 1 win over the Seahawks, will practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones will join Kittle as limited participants (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic).
Purdy, out back-to-back games with a toe injury, is viewed as more limited than Jones. While Jones is battling knee and oblique issues, he could make his third straight start Sunday against the Falcons.
Kittle has already missed five games this season, which is the second-highest total of his nine-year career. The six-time Pro Bowler entered 2025 off four consecutive seasons of at least 14 games played. He continued to thrive during a 15-game slate in 2024, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 49ers were likely expecting more of the same from Kittle this season. Instead, he has been among many high-profile injury casualties for the club. San Francisco’s offense has gotten one appearance from Kittle, two from Purdy, and none from receiver Brandon Aiyuk. On the other side of the ball, the team has seen heart-and-soul defenders Fred Warner and Nick Bosa go down with season-ending injuries in recent weeks. Despite that, the 49ers have gotten off to a 4-2 start.
Without Kittle, the 49ers have turned to the little-known Jake Tonges as their primary tight end. To Tonges’ credit, he has done well filling in for Kittle. He entered the season with no catches over four games (all with Chicago in 2022), but Tonges has racked up 25 receptions, 34 targets, 224 yards, and three scores in six contests this year. He’ll serve as a solid No. 2 option at tight end when Kittle is back in the lineup, perhaps as early as this week.
The 49ers could also get Aiyuk back soon, which will further bolster their offense down the stretch as they vie for a playoff berth. Facing a fellow NFC postseason contender this week in the 3-2 Falcons, the 49ers may again have to overcome a Purdy absence. After signing a five-year, $265MM contract extension in the offseason, Purdy has been sidelined for most of 2025. Jones has held his own as a fill-in, but thanks in part to his own injury troubles, he struggled in a loss to the Buccaneers in Week 6.