As the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks clashed in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, one star player was noticeably absent.
What happened to George Kittle? When will the 49ers tight end return?
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Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon after catching a pass in the second quarter of last week’s wild-card round game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers tight end had to be sent back to the locker room and soon missed the remainder of the game with an Achilles injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed to reporters after the game that Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
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On January 13, San Francisco officially placed Kittle on the injured reserve list. According to Shanahan, the 49ers’ star tight end is scheduled to undergo surgery on January 14 to repair a torn tendon.
Here’s information on Kittle’s future status:
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When will George Kittle return?
Kittle’s season is officially over after the 49ers placed their leading tight end on injured reserve. He will have to wait until next season to return.
“Football sucks sometimes,” Kittle wrote in an Instagram post. “But I love it. I love these guys and this team. Heartbroken, but feeling the love and support from everyone. I’ll be fine. Thank you. We’re not done yet! Plus, when your team owner is the first person to see you in the locker room, you know you’re in a special place. Cheers, all my love.”
The recovery process after surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon can last four to six months, after which most patients “return to their previous level of activity,” according to the Mayo Clinic. However, without more exercises to rebuild strength and stability, “some problems may persist for up to a year.”
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How long Kittle will be out will depend on the severity of his Achilles rupture and the length of his recovery process. Kittle’s return timeline may become clearer once he completes surgery and begins his recovery.
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George Kittle statistics
Kittle has played in just 11 games this season, another injury-plagued season. A Grade 3 hamstring tear kept him out of the first five games of the season, and an ankle sprain late in the season caused Kittle to miss another game.
Here are Kittle’s numbers for the 2025 season, with the tight end playing fewer games than in any season since 2020:
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Number of yards per reception: 11.0
Despite playing relatively little time in 2025, Kittle’s seven touchdowns are still the third-highest touchdown total of his career, trailing only 11 (2022) and eight (2024). The 49ers tight end was also selected to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl in 2025 and seventh in the past eight years.
49ers TE depth chart
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George Kittle (End of Season IR – Achilles)
Tongas, a fourth-year tight end who scored his first career touchdown in Week 1, has assumed the primary tight end role in Kittle’s absence this year. His 46 targets in the regular season were the most of any 49ers pass catcher outside of Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey and San Francisco’s three leading receivers.
Farrell, who joined the 49ers as a free agent last offseason after four years in Jacksonville, scored his first career touchdown in Week 2. Willis has been on the 49ers’ practice squad for most of the season and rejoined the team’s active roster after Kittle suffered an Achilles injury.
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This article originally appeared on USA Today: George Kittle injury update: When will 49ers TE return?
