The San Francisco 49ers activated star tight end George Kittle from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after an Achilles tear last season. This is a massive bit of news for a team that needs him.
Per NFL insider Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Kittle could eye a Week 1 return, but it all depends on how the 49ers approach the matter. “This gives him a chance to play in Week 1 vs. the Rams in Australia, though there is still a chance the team plays it safe considering the travel.”
The 49ers already lost wideout Ricky Pearsall for the season, and have Mike Evans dealing with some tightness, as well as running back Christian McCaffrey. Hence, Kittle‘s addition could be a breath of fresh air for the offense.
Kittle is crucial for this offense
Kittle is not only one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL, but also one of the best blockers. For a head coach like Kyle Shanahan, who loves to run the football, having a premier pass-catcher that also helps opening holes for the backs is just too good to be true.
Kittle is an integral part of this team as a leader too. And, of course, his production is very good. The 7x Pro Bowler had 57 catches for 628 yards and seven touchdowns last season in only 11 games before getting injured.
The 49ers still have a very good TE2 if they want to be careful
Due to Kittle’s injury last season, the 49ers relied on backup Jake Tonges for the last stretch of the season. Tonges proved to be a very good tight end, as the 27-year-old was very reliable.
Tonges had 34 catches in 46 targets for 293 yards and an outstanding five touchdowns in 2025. Hence, if the Australia game is too risky for Kittle, the Niners could use Tonges to very good results.
