Overview
- Kittle, speaking Sunday, said he is “very confident” he will come off the active/PUP list before rosters are cut on Aug. 30 so he would not be forced onto reserve/PUP and miss at least four games.
- He has been running on the field, hitting top speeds and meeting GPS and calf-strength targets, but he has not yet returned to full padded team practice.
- Kittle said his surgeon told him to push the rehab but be cautious, and he expects the 49ers to decide whether he will travel to Australia before the team departs on Sept. 2.
- The club’s broader camp picture includes limited or no practice for Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa and Kurtis Rourke with none listed as long-term concerns, while Jacob Cowing has returned to practice.
- An Achilles typically needs nine to 12 months to fully heal, and Kittle’s surgically repaired high tear by Dr. Neal ElAttrache is seen as favorable for a quicker recovery, so a pre‑season activation would boost San Francisco’s pass-catching and blocking depth while the team balances short‑term availability against long‑term season health.