George Kittle exclusive: 49ers star still eyes Week 1 Achilles injury return
George Kittle spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area's Jennifer Lee Chan from Tight End University about his Achilles rehab progress.
George Kittle exclusive: 49ers star still eyes Week 1 Achilles injury return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
George, how are you today?
I'm wonderful, Jennifer.
How are you?
I'm good.
I saw you running around on the field out there.
How's the Achilles feeling?
What?
You saw that?
Yeah.
I thought I was sneaking around.
Nope.
I'm doing great.
we're on track.
Everything's going good, no setbacks, so just enjoying it, checking boxes one day at a time.
And this has grown so much.
I mean, a brand new stadium here at Vanderbilt.
How has this been this year?
Sixth one.
it's the most guys we've ever had.
We've Over 90 guys are here, so a lot of people.
We have, coaches this year, so, like, Robert Tunyon's a team captain, Eric Saubert's a team captain.
So we broke that up, giving responsibilities out, you know, just always trying to grow the position so, you know, at some point other guys can be leading the tight end university.
And Kyle Juszczyk, you said about time after six years it took you to get him here.
Hey, I just had seen, you know, the trend is that while there's not a lot of fullback positions, a lot of tight ends are playing fullback.
So why not have the best fullback of all time, 10-time Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk, come and learn these guys a thing or two?
I mean, when you were out last year, he did take on a little bit of your responsibility out there, right?
He does.
I mean, he's Well, the fun thing about Juice is he's been coming to our tight end meeting rooms now for the last year and a half, and while it's fun watching him learn from us, hearing how he talks about the offense from his point of view is really cool because I've never had a tight ends coach that can also coach the fullback position.
So having someone in there who knows all the details and what, like, Bobby Turner's coaching and what Kyle really wants is very eye-opening, especially for guys like Jake Tonges, Brandon- Brayden Willis.
Like, they get to see it from his point of view.
All right.
What's your opinion on, I know it's a bit early, but Kahlil Dinkins, the new guy in your room?
Oh, first off, fits in the room really well.
He loves, he loves Marvel and Star Wars, so instantly I'm friends with him, and he loves Legos, so he'll fit in just fine.
you know, just want him to get through training camp healthy, and so he can show, like, how good he is 'cause he has qualities and characteristics that can be a really good football player.
And that wide receiver room got a huge upgrade this season.
you know what?
I would say I could be wrong, but I feel like this is one of the most, this is, like, our probably most depth we've had in the wide receiver room, like, one of the most competitive wide receiver rooms we've had.
So I'm just looking forward to seeing all of the competition.
I know Mike Evans is amazing, and, it's just, it's really fun to see how he works and how guys follow his work ethic.
All right.
George, have a great time today.
Thank you.
Actually, last year was the first time we asked him, and I'm ashamed it was Travis's idea to invite Juice.
but Juice didn't want to come because I didn't invite him, so he's quite hard to get.
but this year I asked him probably during the season last year.
I said, "Hey, I need you," and he's been really excited about it.
You know, we're going through the film together, what plays I like, what plays he likes.
It's been, really fun to have him here.
Just, like I said, his perspective is just so unique, and I guess he's the best in the world that's ever done it, so it's good to hear it.
You know, it's year 10 for both of you with the 49ers, so- Pretty cool pretty cool way to, to, to celebrate that.
But when you look back, meeting Juice the first time, do you remember the first time that you met him in the building in 2017?
Yeah.
We weren't really good friends until, like, 2018.
Took a while.
I had to, like, earn his respect, which I respect from Juice.
But, he's been awesome the entire time.
Honestly, my earliest memory of him is him telling me that I was doing a workout wrong in the weight room.
I'll never forget it.
Thanks, Juice, and I wasn't doing it wrong.
You Harvard guys are just so despicable sometimes.
But, he's been awesome, and the cool thing is, too, he's only just gotten better the longer I've been around him, so that's pretty interesting.
Brock is here.
Yes.
How much did it take to, to get Brock to get out to tight ending?
I had to threaten to beat him up.
But he's here.
Mac Jones is here.
We have all former Niners quarterbacks here today.
Yes.
And it's a I mean, what a great group.
They're having a fantastic time.
Mac Jones is definitely leading the vibes.
but, Brandon Allen, Nick Mullens are, they're striving for second place there.
And finally, how are you feeling, and are you on track for, for week one still?
Definitely on track.
I have a chance.
Like, nothing's 100% certain, but I haven't taken a step back.
Nothing bad's happened, knock on so much wood.
But, we're slowly getting better, and that, that's all I can ask for.
We're pushing it as hard as I can, just without being an idiot.
