The San Francisco 49ers face a difficult choice in the coming days as they wrap up roster cuts and turn their attention to the regular-season opener.
The team must decide whether tight end George Kittle will take the field against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10 in Australia.
Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon last season during a playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He has progressed faster than expected and remains a candidate to play in Week 1.
Grant Cohn of 49ers on SI argued Saturday that the organization should resist the temptation to rush him back.
“Kittle’s recovery won’t be linear,” Cohn wrote. “Some days, he’ll feel better than others. And he’s way ahead of schedule as is. The 49ers should treat him with an abundance of caution. He’s too important in December and January to risk his season in early September when he’s less than a year removed from an Achilles tear.”
He continued forward, revealing what he thinks the team should do with Kittle in Week 1.
“No matter how good Kittle says he feels, the 49ers should leave him home for the season opener and play the Rams in Australia without him. If they lose, that would be better than losing Kittle to a serious setback that could knock him out for months, if not longer.”
Kittle delivered a strong statistical season before the injury. He played 331 pass snaps and earned a 90.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He caught 57 of 66 targets for 628 yards and seven touchdowns.He averaged 11.0 yards per reception and added 259 yards after the catch.
Those numbers would help the 49ers in a division game on the road. A loss to the Rams could prove costly later if the NFC West race stays tight, as many observers expect.
San Francisco still has other receiving options if it holds Kittle out. Second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling stood out during the preseason and training camp.
Kittle praised the young receiver when he spoke with reporters on Aug. 16.
“I love what Stribling’s doing right now,” Kittle said. “My favorite thing about Strib is actually just his mindset every single day. Like, there’s no ego at all… He’s not sensitive whatsoever. He’s got the right mindset for everything. He shows up every day, and I think he just works really, really hard.
“And that’s all I’ve heard about him, too. I’m not in every single meeting with him, but I’ve only heard great things about him. I think he has a chance to be a very, very good football player for us this year.”
The 49ers must finalize their 53-man roster by the Aug. 30 deadline. With the preseason complete, the focus has shifted entirely to the long trip and the matchup against a familiar division rival.
Coaches and medical staff will weigh how Kittle feels each day against the risk of a setback so early in the year.
Kittle has made it clear he wants to play, yet the team’s longer-term hopes may depend on keeping him healthy through the fall and into the postseason. Stribling’s work ethic and lack of ego have given the coaching staff extra confidence in the depth at the skill positions.
The final call on Kittle will likely come after the roster is set and the team begins final preparations for the flight to Australia.
