George Kittle Injury Update Provided in New NFL Rumors, Latest on 49ers Star's Status vs. Rams

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle will travel with the team to Australia for its opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10, according to Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network.

Rapoport reported the seven-time Pro Bowler "is trending in the right direction to play."

Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in San Francisco's NFC Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles. After undergoing surgery, he suggested to reporters he could suit up again "well before November."

The 32-year-old is on pace to comfortably hit that timeline.

Whether Kittle is activated for Week 1 is obviously up in the air. He practiced with the team Tuesday, which was an encouraging sign in his ongoing recovery.

San Francisco overhauled its receiving corps this offseason. The team signed Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel and also used a second-round pick on De'Zhaun Stribling. That turnover is compounded by the fact Ricky Pearsall already suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Kittle remains a dependable target when healthy. He had 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in his 11 appearances in 2025.

The rapport he has established with quarterback Brock Purdy is even more important, too, given how many new pieces the Niners added.

Having Kittle available for the opener would be a big luxury for the offense.