San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon late in the first half of a victory in a wild-card playoff game at Philadelphia

George Kittle’s Achilles recovery after the 49ers’ Wild Card win could allow an early 2026 return, Dr. David J. Chao says.

The San Francisco 49ers targeted George Kittle on a six-yard pass with just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter. After Kittle was tackled, he immediately grabbed the back of his right ankle. It was a non-contact injury, which is genuinely the worst-case scenario.