The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their second NFL preseason game Thursday night, visiting the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. San Francisco is coming off a 31-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans in its preseason opener, while Brock Purdy and several other starters are expected to see action against Los Angeles. George Kittle, however, remains unavailable as he continues his recovery.
Kittle has been on the physically unable to perform list since suffering a torn Achilles in San Francisco’s NFC wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in January.
The veteran tight end underwent surgery performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache and has been working toward a return without yet practicing with the team. Kittle said earlier this week that his goal remains to be ready for the season opener.
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Kittle and the 49ers received encouraging news regarding his recovery Wednesday after visiting ElAttrache in Los Angeles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. His recovery is ahead of schedule, giving Kittle a legitimate chance to play in Week 1 when the 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.
That would be a major development for San Francisco. Kittle remains one of the most important pieces of the 49ers’ offense and has continued working toward getting back into football shape.
The team has also been developing its younger tight ends while Kittle remains sidelined, with Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges among those receiving praise from Kittle for their progress.
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The 49ers have several weeks to determine whether Kittle can safely return for the Sept. 11 opener. San Francisco plans to travel to Australia early to acclimate to the conditions, adding another factor to Kittle’s recovery timeline.
His latest medical evaluation, however, provides another positive step toward potentially joining the 49ers in Australia for Week 1.
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