49ers activate George Kittle, increasing his chances of playing Week 1

George Kittle said last week that he was close to returning to practice from a torn Achilles tendon. On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers made it official when they activated Kittle from the active/physically unable to perform list.

Kittle was in uniform, along with running back Christian McCaffrey, when San Francisco began practice Sunday.

This increases the optimism that Kittle will get on the team plane 10 days from now (the 49ers leave Sept. 2) and that he’ll play in the Sept. 10 opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.

Kittle said in the past that he was lucky in a way that the tear occurred high on the Achilles. If it was lower, it would be a month-and-a-half longer recovery.

Still, there’s no guarantee he’ll play in the Week 1 game.

If the 49ers do use caution and keep Kittle on ice until the three-game homestand Weeks 2 through 4, Jake Tonges showed last year and this training camp that he can handle a share of the passing game. The 49ers gave him a new deal this offseason.

Kittle caught 57 passes in 11 games last season for 628 yards and seven TDs. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the seventh time.

This story will be updated