George Kittle has a bold goal for the start of the 2026 NFL season, but remains realistic about it. The 49ers tight end, whose 2025 season ended with a torn Achilles in San Francisco’s NFC wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11, has been progressing in his recovery and has a sho t to return to the field as soon as Week 1. However, while it’s possible Kittle might not miss any time next season, he is realistic about his availability for San Francisco’s season-opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. “Hey, that’s the goal,” Kittle told Front Office Sports News’ Baker Machado when asked in a recent interview if he will be ready for Week 1. “That’s what my goal is. I was told it’s not a crazy goal. And so, as long as I keep on the right path and everything goes the right way, hey, I got a chance. “As a 15-hour flight and a game like four days before a normal opening day, that might make it a little bit difficult, sure, but who doesn’t like a challenge? So, no, I’ve got a chance, like I said, so just going to keep my head down, keep grinding every single day.” The 49ers, much to their chagrin, will travel 7,800-plus miles to begin their season, and as coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday at Organized Team Activities (OTAs), the team is planning to travel to Australia seven days before the game in order to properly acclimate to the time zone. That could complicate Kittle’s goal, and even if he isn’t able to return in Week 1, the star tight end is confident his season debut won’t be far off. “If we started the season off at home, and I didn’t have to hop on a plane for 15 hours, it might be different,” Kittle told Machado. “But I think it just depends on how I’m feeling, if I’m cleared to go. If I’m cleared, hey, I’ll be there, and I’ll be on the field. And if they’re like, ‘Hey, it’s close,’ it’ll be a game-time decision. So, we’ll see. “Everyone keeps telling me I won’t be back until Week 6, 7, or 8, and I’ll be like, ‘You guys believe whatever you want to believe.’ My goal is to be back there as early as possible.” And that’s music to 49ers fans’ ears. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less