49ers ‘Hopeful’ TE George Kittle Will Be Ready For Week 1
Even though star tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in January, the 49ers are not ruling him out for any of next season. General manager John Lynch said he is “hopeful” Kittle will be available for a crucial Week 1 meeting with the rival Rams in Australia (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). The teams will square off on Sept. 10, just eight months after Kittle’s injury.
As was the case last season, expectations are the NFC West will be a three-team battle royal among the 49ers, Rams and reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks in 2026. Having Kittle available for the first Rams matchup would be ideal for the 49ers, who went without him in seven of 19 games last season. That includes a 41-6 blowout loss to the Seahawks in the divisional round.
Kittle has missed at least one game in eight of nine seasons, but 2025 was especially brutal for the 32-year-old. He landed on IR after tearing his right hamstring in a Week 1 win in Seattle. The injury shelved Kittle for five games. He later missed a Week 17 win over the Bears with a left ankle issue that was far more severe than believed at the time. Kittle recently revealed that he tore two ligaments in his ankle.
Despite dealing with multiple serious injuries, Kittle continued to offer excellent production when he took the field. Over 11 regular-season games, the seven-time Pro Bowler hauled in 57 of 69 targets for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. Between his pass-catching skills and prowess as a blocker, Pro Football Focus ranked Kittle the league’s best tight end in 2025.
While Kittle is among the 49ers’ most valuable players, they did get solid work from backup tight end Jake Tonges last season. One of the rare 49ers to play 17 games in an injury-ravaged year for the team, Tonges caught 34 of 46 targets for 293 yards and five TDs. Tonges became a restricted free agent in the offseason, but the 49ers retained him on a two-year, $8MM deal. If Kittle is unavailable to begin next season, Tonges and blocking specialist Luke Farrell are in line to lead the 49ers’ tight end group.
49ers TE George Kittle Suffered Two Torn Ligaments In Ankle In Week 16
49ers tight end George Kittle earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nod for his 2025 work despite playing in just 11 regular season games due to injury. He was forced out of the club’s wildcard-round win over the Eagles due to a right Achilles tear, and he recently revealed his thoughts as to the source of that injury.
While in the midst of a strong performance against the Colts in Week 16, Kittle suffered a left ankle injury that knocked him out of the rest of that game and kept him on the shelf for San Francisco’s Week 17 contest versus the Bears. A report from ESPN’s Nick Wagoner after the Indianapolis game characterized the ailment as a “mid to low ankle sprain,” and while a sprain by definition can include a tear, that description appears to have undersold the extent of the injury.
In an appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast (video link) earlier this month, Kittle revealed that he tore two ligaments in his left ankle during the Colts matchup (h/t Coach Yac). He compensated by running with most of his weight on his right side, and he attributes his Achilles tear to that added pressure.
“My biggest thing on what I thought it was, when I played the Colts, I tore two ligaments in my ankle and then I hurt it again because I kept playing on it,” Kittle said. “I was very lopsided. I was compensating really bad. So, I think that was a big part of it to [sic] because I was compensating for it the past [three] weeks on one ankle. All the weight was on my right side so I was basically running with all the weight on my right side. That would be my best guess.”
Kittle does not suggest the ankle injury will present a problem moving forward. The Achilles tear, regardless of whether it was the result of the ligament damage to his opposite ankle, remains the bigger worry.
It was assumed that the Achilles malady would sideline Kittle for a significant portion of the 2026 campaign, but when discussing the details of his surgery and recovery in January, the 32-year-old suggested he could push for a Week 1 return and at least expects to be back before November.
The 49ers plodded through another injury-ravaged season in ‘25 to post a 12-5 record, and they advanced to the second round of the playoffs before being overwhelmed by the Seahawks. An earlier-than-expected Kittle return would obviously be a welcome development for a club that has struggled with health concerns in recent history but that can compete for a championship when at or near full strength.
In his 11 regular season contests last year, Kittle – who is under club control through 2029 – posted 57 catches for 628 yards and seven TDs.
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.