49ers' George Kittle eyes return to practice, opener in Australia

Key Points:

• San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, recovering from a torn right Achilles suffered in January, remains hopeful to play in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Australia.
• Kittle is progressing through a strict rehabilitation plan involving calf raises and football-specific workouts, running and cutting near full speed, and hitting pre-injury speed benchmarks.
• He is confident he will not start the season on the physically unable to perform list and aims to return to practice soon, with a decision on his Week 1 status expected before the team departs for Melbourne on Sept. 2.
• Coaches and teammates praise Kittle's relentless positivity and rapid recovery, crediting his mindset and adherence to medical guidance for his progress.
• While Kittle wants to play every game, he acknowledges the importance of pacing his recovery over the 18-week season and is prepared to adjust his return timeline if necessary.