San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is stoked to be back on the field. He’s just about over his right hamstring injury and confident going into his return. Kittle got hurt when he was running a deep route in the 49ers’ season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7. Unfortunately, he has been out each of the past five games since then. As the 49ers prepare for their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday, Kittle’s presence could significantly boost the team’s offensive capabilities.
Kittle indicated that he had a pretty significant injury, calling it a “full tear” of his hamstring. This sort of injury typically requires a long rehabilitation period, often ranging from three to six months. Luckily for him, the way the tear was – almost a complete off the bone tear on his distal bicep – did not completely separate from the bone itself. This serendipitous stroke of luck put Kittle in a position to hope for a quicker-than-expected return.
Kittle has been going as a limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Following Thursday’s practice, he said he was feeling “really good” and that “today felt better than yesterday.” The young man played it very safe and understood the need for safety. He understood that quickly returning to playing could exacerbate his injury.
“I just felt like a rubber band snapped in my hamstring,” Kittle recalled of the moment he was injured. He knew something had gone wrong right after the blast, setting off a series of alarms about just how badly he’d been burned. His recovery couldn’t have gone better. While he hasn’t played since Week 1, he is now eligible to have his practice window opened this week, allowing a full 21 day window for him to return.
Kittle could have played in last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This time around, he decided that his long-term health and full recovery were more important than rushing back to the field. His decision signals a mature understanding of how to manage injury, putting health ahead of short-term availability.
Even for a fellow future Hall of Famer like McCaffrey, Kittle’s return is the most exciting. Quarterback Mac Jones noted, “He’s just great energy in the huddle and he’s just George. He’s not going to change whether it’s practice or game day, so you know what you’re going to get. I’m excited to see where he’s at.” That excitement is a testament to Kittle’s effect, not just through Kittle’s on-the-field performances, but in the locker room and during the practices, as well.
The 49ers felt Kittle’s absence from the beginning of the season, as he’s been one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers before going down. This absence has severely hamstrung their offensive gameplan. He can take the top off defenses and create mismatches versus all kinds of defenders. That’ll be an important talent to have when they go up against the Falcons.
As Kittle gets ready for Sunday’s game, he’s still paying attention to the things that will keep his readiness up high when it comes time to compete. He knows that taking a successful return too fast could risk re-injury to a greater extent. That said, the 49ers coaching staff will probably play it safe and keep a close eye on him all the way through to game day.
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