George Kittle Injury: Chance to Play Week 1

The George Kittle injury update that 49ers fans have been waiting on actually sounded like good news. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday night that Kittle visited renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and the checkup was "encouraging." Kittle's recovery from a torn Achilles is ahead of schedule, Schefter said, and that gives him a legitimate chance to play in San Francisco's regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.

NBC Sports' Myles Simmons, citing Schefter, filled in the calendar. Kittle tore his right Achilles in a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He had surgery three days later, with ElAttrache — the Rams' team physician — repairing the tendon. He is still on the active/physically unable to perform list and has not practiced in training camp. The 49ers have to take him off the PUP list by Aug. 30 if they want him available for Week 1. Stay on it, and he misses at least the first four games.

George Kittle injury: what Schefter actually reported

Schefter's note, posted Thursday night, is the new fact. The visit happened Wednesday. ElAttrache is the same surgeon who operated in January. The visit was described as encouraging. The recovery is ahead of schedule. That combination, Schefter said, "gives him a legitimate chance to play in the regular season opener in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams." CBS Sports' RotoWire recap stamped the same report at 9:41 p.m. ET on Aug. 20 and added the countdown: 21 days until that Rams kickoff.

Kittle has been aiming at Week 1 the whole time. NBC Sports said he told reporters within the last week he is confident he will not remain on the PUP to start the regular season. That is a player talking. Schefter's Wednesday visit is a doctor talking. Those are not the same thing, and 49ers fans should keep them separate. An eight-month Achilles return for a 32-year-old tight end who has to block, run, and finish is still aggressive. Ahead of schedule is not "cleared." It is the first real medical green light since camp opened.

What a George Kittle Week 1 return would actually mean

Kittle made his seventh career Pro Bowl last season even while playing only 11 regular-season games because of hamstring and ankle injuries, NBC Sports reported. That is the version of him San Francisco is trying to get back: still the offense's best complementary piece next to the skill-skill names, still the guy who can wreck a coverage and a defensive end on the same series. The opener is the Rams. In Australia. On a short camp. If he plays, it will not be because Shanahan got cute. It will be because ElAttrache signed off and the GPS numbers held.

The other injury news around this camp has been colder. The Chargers just heard Jim Harbaugh say Tyler Biadasz's ACL "doesn't look promising" after Tuesday's joint practice with these same 49ers. That is the other side of August. Kittle's report is the rare one that moves a star toward the field instead of away from it. It still has to survive the next 10 days of practice, the Aug. 30 PUP deadline, and a long-haul trip to Melbourne. Until the 49ers take him off the list, treat Week 1 as possible, not scheduled.

George Kittle injury FAQ

What is the latest George Kittle injury update? ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday that Kittle's Wednesday visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache was encouraging and that his Achilles recovery is ahead of schedule, giving him a legitimate chance to play Week 1 vs. the Rams.

Will George Kittle play in Week 1? He has a chance, not a clearance. NBC Sports noted he is still on the PUP list and must come off it by Aug. 30 to be available for the opener in Australia.

When did George Kittle tear his Achilles? Jan. 11, in a playoff game against the Eagles. He had surgery three days later, per NBC Sports. ElAttrache performed the operation.