Overview
- Kittle said he is out of a walking boot, wearing shoes with heel lifts, using an anti-gravity treadmill, and expects to be off crutches within one to two weeks.
- He relayed that doctors characterized the rupture as a higher, more favorable Achilles tear near the calf that did not require work on the heel bone.
- Kittle revealed he believes he tore two ankle ligaments in Week 16 against the Colts and kept playing, leading to compensatory mechanics he thinks factored into the Achilles injury.
- His comments add to public scrutiny of the 49ers’ medical and training staff, which recently drew mixed reviews from players in NFLPA report cards.
- San Francisco has bolstered tight end depth during his recovery, including re-signing Jake Tonges.