T
he San Francisco 49ers are ready for a major resurgence in 2026, but it is possible that they will start the year without one of their biggest stars. Tight end George Kittle suffered an achilles injury in the 49ers’ wild card playoff game win and since he suffered the injury so late in the season, he may not return until well after the ’26 season starts. The 49ers have optimism that Kittle can make it back but with his return date uncertain, the team may need to rely on a backup to get by until he is ready to play again.
The team is confident that the players they have on the roster can fill in nicely. Last season, Jake Tonges caught 34 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns while Kittle was out with a hamstring injury, showing promise as a starter. But Kittle has said he feels good and has hinted at a week one return. However, Kittle returning too early and re-injuring himself is a real fear, something that former 49ers’ offensive lineman Alex Boone has concerns about.
Boone Is Worried About the 49ers’ Tight End Room
Invited as a guest on the podcast, 49ers Collective with Grant Cohn and Larry Krueger, Boone voiced his concerns on the tight end room, saying that the team did not do enough to address the position this offseason– especially with Kittle coming off of a major injury at his age (32).
“I’m looking at this injury like ‘are we sure he’s [Kittle] gonna be there Week 1?,'” Boone said. “Like do we want him there Week 1? Is that enough time to be recovered? My biggest fear is he’s going to get hurt again. And then all of a sudden, you don’t have him for the whole season… it’s one of those things, in this offense, a lot of it runs through the tight end.”
Normally, the recovery timeline for an achilles injury is 9-12 months with no setbacks. But recovery also depends on age, and with Kittle entering his age 32/33 season, it remains to be seen how fast he can come back. But if there is one thing that Kittle is known for, it’s his toughness so if anyone can make an unprecedented return to play, it’s him.
49ers’ Other Options at Tight End
Aside from Kittle and Tonges, the 49ers have four other tight ends on the roster. Luke Farrell, who the 49ers signed to a three-year deal last offseason, is an option to play but his limited production comes with a lot of questions about his ceiling. After that, the 49ers have a lot of unproven guys. 2023 seventh round draft pick Brayden Willis has been in the offense for a few years now, but has not recorded a catch and is used primarily on special teams.
The other two tight ends are Hayden Rucci and undrafted free agent, Khalil Dinkins. Rucci signed a reserve/futures contract with the 49ers back in January and while he could compete for a roster spot, he has only played in one NFL regular season game. Dinkins, a rookie out of Penn State, is unlikely to make the 53-man roster.
Ex-49ers Star Reveals ‘Biggest Fear’ Amid George Kittle Injury