The team stated that Kittle was activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform List, signaling that he is now a viable option to be ready for the start of the season. With this move, the veteran tight end is in a position to participate in preparations ahead of Week 1.
The 49ers’ 2026 season opener is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, giving Kittle more than two weeks to ramp up before the first game.
Kittle has not played since tearing his Achilles in the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles in January. Activation off the list seven months after the injury is notable, especially given Kittle’s age at 32.
Final status updates have historically varied, but the current development is a positive one for the 49ers, who have faced a challenging injury landscape in recent seasons.
George Kittle’s 2026 fantasy outlook remains promising. He is expected to play a major role in the 49ers’ offense. The team added Mike Evans in free agency and De’Zhaun Stribling in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they also reunited with Deebo Samuel. While Evans is an veteran presence who could see a decline at some point, Stribling is unproven at the NFL level, and Samuel has shown signs of a decline in recent years. In addition, San Francisco recently lost Ricky Pearsall to a season-ending knee injury.
Last season, Kittle was productive, posting 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing six games. In terms of fantasy points per game, he finished tied for the TE2 overall, per FantasyPros. Moving into 2026, he should be near the top tier at the tight end position, potentially a borderline TE1 depending on usage and health.
