As the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks begin their NFL playoffs clash in the divisional round, one star player is conspicuously absent.
What happened to George Kittle? And when could the 49ers‘ tight end return?
In last week’s wild-card round game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon after catching a pass in the second quarter. The 49ers tight end had to be carted back to the locker room and was quickly ruled out of the remainder of the game with an Achilles injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed to reporters after the game that Kittle had torn his Achilles.
San Francisco officially placed Kittle on injured reserve on Jan. 13. The 49ers’ star tight end was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the torn tendon on Jan. 14, according to Shanahan.
Here’s what to know about Kittle’s status moving forward:
When will George Kittle return?
Kittle’s season is officially over after the 49ers placed their lead tight end on injured reserve. He will have to wait until next season for his return.
“Football sucks sometimes,” Kittle wrote in an Instagram post. “But I love it. I love these guys and this team. Heartbroken but have felt so much love and support from everyone reaching out. I’ll be good. Thank you. We aren’t done yet! Also when your team owner is the first person to meet you in the locker room, you know you’re in a special place. Cheers, all my love.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the rehab process following a surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles can last anywhere from four to six months before most patients “return to their former level of activity.” However, “some problems can persist for up to a year” without more exercises to rebuild strength and stability.
How long Kittle remains out will depend on the severity of his Achilles rupture and the length of his rehab process. The timeline for his return may become clearer once Kittle is out of surgery and has started his rehab.
George Kittle stats
Kittle played in just 11 games this season in another year tainted by injuries. A Grade 3 hamstring tear kept him out of five games early in the season, and an ankle sprain later in the season caused Kittle to miss another game.
Here’s Kittle’s numbers from a 2025 season that featured fewer games played for the tight end than any season since 2020:
- Targets: 69
- Receptions: 57
- Receiving yards: 628
- Yards per reception: 11.0
- Touchdowns: 7
Despite the relative lack of playing time in 2025, Kittle’s seven touchdowns were the third-highest total of his career behind 11 (2022) and eight (2024). The 49ers’ tight end also earned a fifth straight Pro Bowl nod in 2025 and seventh in the last eight years.
49ers TE depth chart
- George Kittle (season-ending IR – Achilles)
- Jake Tonges
- Luke Farrell
- Brayden Willis
Tonges, who had his first career reception with a touchdown in Week 1 this year, is a fourth-year tight end who has taken on the primary tight end role in Kittle’s absences this year. His 46 targets during the regular season were the most of any 49ers pass-catchers outside of Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey and San Francisco’s three leading wide receivers.
Farrell joined the 49ers as a free agent last offseason after four years in Jacksonville and recorded his first career receiving touchdown in Week 2. Willis was on the 49ers’ practice squad for most of the season and re-signed to the team’s active roster after Kittle’s Achilles injury.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Kittle injury update: When will 49ers TE return?
