George Kittle Confident He'll Suit Up for 49ers' Week 1 Showdown vs. Rams
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has a chance to play in Week 1 when his team takes on the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, a remarkable recovery milestone considering the severity of his injury.
Kittle ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles in January. He missed San Francisco's ensuing divisional-round loss to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. If he suits up for Week 1, he will have recovered from his Achilles injury without having missed a regular-season game.
Kittle's recovery is part of a broader evolution in the treatment of ruptured Achilles tendons, which were once considered career-threatening. Other notable athletes, including Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, have also made remarkable recoveries after undergoing advanced procedures with renowned orthopedic surgeons.
Tatum, who underwent surgery with Dr. Martin J. O'Malley, returned to play for the Celtics last season after sustaining a ruptured Achilles tendon in the prior season's playoffs. Jones also underwent surgery with O'Malley and is on track to return for the start of the regular season. Kittle, however, underwent surgery with Dr. Neal Elattrache and sustained a clean, high tear of his Achilles tendon, which offers an optimal prognosis for recovery.
The 49ers are taking a cautious approach to Kittle's return, with an eye on making the postseason. "I have a chance," Kittle said. "We're running around a lot, hitting top speeds. Hopefully we're back in pads sooner than later. Just trying to check the boxes and not be a dumbass."
The team will continue to monitor Kittle's progress in the coming weeks, with a decision on his status for Week 1 likely to be made closer to the game.
Source: Yahoo Sports