49ers Get Star Player Back From Serious Injury

Reinforcements are on the way for the San Francisco 49ers as the team prepares to head to Australia to kick off the 2026-27 NFL season.

The team has activated star tight end George Kittle from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. This means that he will be able to join the team for practice sessions while trying to get back into football shape.

Kittle, a seven-time Pro Bowler, tore his Achilles during a wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He ended the year on Injured Reserve while the San Francisco 49ers advanced to the divisional round.

Kittle spent the offseason recovering from the injury while his teammates prepared for the start of the season. Now, he will have an opportunity to potentially meet his goal of suiting up for Week 1. Although the team’s medical staff will ultimately have the final say.

Kittle has been incredibly productive for the 49ers since landing with the team as a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has caught 595 passes for 8,008 yards and 52 touchdowns. He has four seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.

Kittle is third all-time in 49ers history in receiving yards. The only players ahead of him are Hall of Famers Terrell Owens (8,572) and Jerry Rice (19,247). He is second all-time in receptions behind Rice (1,281).

The 49ers will kick off the season on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia. This will mark the first-ever NFL regular-season game played in the country, and it will feature the NFC West rivalry.

The Rams will be the other team making the trip to Australia to kick off the NFL season. This is a team that the 49ers play twice each regular season, and these games regularly affect the outcome of the division.

The Rams are currently the favorite to win the historic game, according to Polymarket traders.

These traders have given the Rams a 65% chance to win the Australia game. The 49ers sit at 37% as the second week of the preseason continues.

In terms of the season series, the traders expect to see a tie. The majority of traders believe that the Rams will win the game in Australia. They believe that the 49ers will take the second game, which takes place on Dec. 13.

Some of the traders still view the Rams as the favorite. They list the Los Angeles-based team at 37%. Some traders list the 49ers as a 14% chance to win the NFC West for the first time since the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

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