While Achilles injuries are typically significant, Kittle's situation has been viewed as somewhat more favorable in terms of recovery timeline, leading to optimism that he could contribute in 2026—and possibly even be ready for the start of the season.
It sounds like Kittle's recovery is going well, and the aggressive return timeline might not be far-fetched. Speaking to longtime sports columnist Mike Hlas on his Substack, Out of Bounds, the 49ers star shared a positive progress update.
"Everything's trending in the right direction. It's going great," Kittle said.
Kittle added that he had been on crutches for roughly 10 to 11 weeks, but moved away from needing them a couple of weeks ago.
"The only negative is that my wife now knows that I can carry things again, and so I've been helping her move boxes," Kittle joked. "So that's some downside of getting off crutches."
Last month, Kittle also discussed the sequence of injuries that may have contributed to the Achilles tear. He revealed that he previously suffered torn ankle ligaments in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, and that compensating for that injury may have contributed to the postseason setback.
"I've had a buttload of injuries and things you have to deal with," Kittle told Hlas. "But you know, fortunately, I've only had to get surgery twice in the NFL, because they're not very fun. I bounce back pretty quickly. I've got a great rehab team around me, a great strength coach around me, and I'm very big in all the recovery stuff, too."
Despite the setback, Kittle's comments suggest his recovery is progressing on schedule, offering a positive outlook for the 49ers heading into the 2026 season.
H/t to Oliver G. of Niners Wire for the find.
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