George Kittle expected to practice this week, still has chance to play opener in Australia
George Kittle's return from a torn Achilles is tracking toward a Week 1 appearance. The San Francisco tight end is expected to practice this week as he continues his push to play in the opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, ESP…
George Kittle's return from a torn Achilles is tracking toward a Week 1 appearance. The San Francisco tight end is expected to practice this week as he continues his push to play in the opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): 49ers TE George Kittle is expected to practice this week as he continues his efforts to play in the opener in Australia against the Rams. Kittle hasn’t had any setbacks in his return from a torn Achilles, and still has a legitimate chance to play the opener, per sources.
Head Coach Shanahan did make an interesting comment about Kittle that seems to have cooled expectations, but as Schefter noted, he still has a legitimate chance to be on the field for the international opener. The news is a welcome development for a 49ers offense that leans heavily on Kittle as both a pass-catcher and blocker.
The Rams-49ers matchup in Australia is one of the league's marquee early-season showcases, and Kittle's availability would add a star name to the billing. San Francisco has been careful with its stars during the preseason, and the fact that Kittle is ramping up to practice now suggests the medical staff is comfortable with his progress.