George Kittle says Australia trip makes Week 1 availability difficult
· Yahoo Sports
San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle is keeping his eyes on a Week 1 return, but the logistics of the team's regular-season opener aren't doing him any favors.
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Speaking with Baker Machado on Front Office Sports, Kittle acknowledged that the 49ers' season-opening trip to Melbourne, Australia, to face the Los Angeles Rams adds a layer of complexity to his rehabilitation from a torn Achilles.
"It's a 15-hour flight and a game like four days before a normal opening day, that might make it a little bit difficult. Yeah, sure, but who doesn't like a challenge?" Kittle said. "At least if we started the season off at home and I didn't have to hop on a plane for 15 hours, it might be different."
"There's a 15 hour flight and a game like four days before normal opening day that might make it a little bit difficult... but who doesn't like a challenge?"
— Front Office Sports News (@FOS_News_) May 26, 2026
49ers tight end George Kittle tells FOS that his goal is to be on the field for the 49ers' season opener in Australia. pic.twitter.com/giTiUp5ITg
The star tight end suffered the injury on January 11 during San Francisco’s Wildcard playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. While an Achilles tear typically threatens a player's entire follow-up campaign, the tone surrounding Kittle has been surprisingly optimistic this offseason.
In late March, general manager John Lynch noted the team was "hopeful" Kittle could beat the odds for the opener. By late April, Lynch doubled down on that progress during an appearance on NFL Network, stating that Kittle was doing well and is expected to "be ready at some point, if not for the first game."
That positive trajectory aligns with Kittle's own assessment. Just a day after Lynch's draft-weekend update, Kittle shared that he was 13 weeks out of surgery and trending ahead of schedule. However, he remained grounded about rushing back onto the field for training camp, warning, "let's not get too far ahead of ourselves" and noting the team would "dip our toes back in a little bit slower than that."
With training camp and the preseason firmly dedicated to his continuing recovery, the 15-hour flight to Australia on September 10 represents the ultimate medical checkpoint.
If he is cleared by the training staff, Kittle insists he will be on the field in Melbourne. If it is close, he expects to be a true game-time decision. Despite outside skepticism that he could miss the first two months of the season, Kittle remains defiant.
"My goal is to be back there as early as possible," Kittle said.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: George Kittle says Australia trip makes Week 1 availability difficult