The 2025 NFL season was another injury-riddled campaign for the San Francisco 49ers. They somehow managed to finish with a 12-5 regular season record, but in their wild-card playoff round win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, they lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles.
The injury immediately cast a dark cloud over the 49ers’ prospects for next season, especially given the question marks they have at the wide receiver position. But according to beat writer Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Kittle may return sooner than expected.
In fact, Barrows wrote during a recent mailbag that the 32-year-old could even look to be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
“I don't think Kittle's Achilles tendon tear will keep him out for all of or even most of next season,” Barrows wrote. “In fact, he's aiming to be back by Week 1 (though that seems less likely if the team opens the season with a 16-hour flight to Australia).”
Per Pro Football Talk, the 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams in early September in Melbourne, Australia as the NFL continues to look to spread the game globally. San Francisco will likely need Kittle’s production to have a real shot at defeating the Rams.
That torn Achilles against Philly wasn’t the only injury Kittle dealt with this season. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and ended up playing in just 11 games. He ended up with 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, and he was chosen to appear in the Pro Bowl for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
San Francisco needs a true alpha threat at the wide receiver position, especially since Jauan Jennings, its most productive wideout this season, is about to become a free agent. In 15 regular-season games, Jennings caught 55 balls for 643 yards and nine touchdowns.
Regardless of Kittle’s ultimate return date and what type of production he will deliver this fall, it is likely time for the 49ers to start to look for an heir apparent to him. They will have the No. 27 pick in the first round of April’s NFL draft, and they’re projected to have a total of seven picks this year, as they’re expected to receive two compensatory picks in the fourth round and one in the fifth round per overthecap.com.
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