The San Francisco 49ers could be in danger of being without one of their best players in the season opener against theLos Angeles Rams.George Kittle tore his Achillesin the playoffs and is still working his way back from the devastating injury.
The Rams face the 49ers inWeek 1 in Australia, which complicates things further for the superstar tight end. The 49ers will have to leave San Francisco earlier than they ordinarily would for a regular road game, knowing it’s a 15-hour flight and a huge time difference.
But even still, Kittle is eyeing the opener against Los Angeles as his return date. He spoke about his recovery and timeline with Front Office Sports and admitted it’ll be “a little bit difficult” with the flight to Australia.
"Hey, that's the goal. That's what my goal is," Kittle said of playing in Week 1. "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."
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Kittle was limited to only 11 games last season due to injury, missing the first meeting with the Rams. He played in the Week 10 matchup, though, and torched Los Angeles’ defense for 84 yards and one touchdown on nine catches.
He’s always been a thorn in the Rams’ side, so him missing the season opener could be a big blow for San Francisco. He’s not ruling himself out yet, though, despite everyone telling him he won’t play until closer to the middle of the season.
"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 said. "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."
The Rams won’t be focusing on Kittle’s status, especially knowing how good his backup, Jake Tonges, was last season. But you can bet San Francisco is closely monitoring Kittle’s availability as the season approaches.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire:George Kittle Week 1 update: 49ers TE aiming to play vs. Rams
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