Tight end George Kittle has said all along he hopes to play in the San Francisco 49ers' season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
He just took a major step toward achieving that goal.
The 49ers activated Kittle from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday, the team announced.
Kittle, who has been rehabbing from an Achilles tear he suffered in San Francisco's wild-card playoff game last season, can now begin practicing and getting into true football shape for the regular season.
Regardless of his contagious optimism, Kittle coming off the PUP list is by no means a guarantee he'll suit up for Week 1.
It does, however, communicate the 49ers are confident he will play within the first month of the season. Had Kittle remained on PUP through roster cutdown day on Aug. 30, he would not have been eligible to play until Week 5.
Whenever Kittle does return to the starting lineup, he'll join a pass-catching group transformed by faces old and new.
The 49ers signed wide receiver Mike Evans, whose six career Pro Bowls trail Kittle by one, to kick off free agency. They then drafted WR De'Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the draft, and at the end of July reunited with Deebo Samuel following a one-year hiatus after the lost Ricky Pearsall for the season.
Fans should know long in advance if Kittle ultimately will square off against the Rams.
The Niners are set to fly to Australia on Sept. 2 ahead of the Sept. 10 game, allowing themselves a full week to acclimate to the time difference. Kittle previously said it makes sense for the club to decide his status ahead of the flight so he can avoid the travel if he's meant to sit out.
In the three weeks after opening against the Rams, San Francisco plays the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos.
