A quartet of San Francisco 49ers will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list according to general manager John Lynch.
Lynch spoke to reporters in a press conference on Saturday and said tight end George Kittle, defensive end Mykel Williams, defensive tackle Alfred Collins and running back Isaac Guerendo will all begin the season on the active/PUP list. That group will all count against the 90-man roster for camp.
Here’s a quick rundown of each player’s injury situation:
TE George Kittle
Kittle is still on his way back from an Achilles tear he suffered in the 49ers’ wild card win over the Philadelphia Eagles in January. Optimism on Kittle’s availability for Week 1 of the regular season has varied, but Lynch on Saturday didn’t rule out the possibility the 49ers’ star TE will be on the field in Melbourne, Australia for season opener.
“George’s rehab is coming tremendous,” Lynch said via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “I know you guys have heard from him and he’s doing really well. And that’s very exciting. He’s doing everything possible to be ready for week one. And we’re thrilled with his progress.”
DE Mykel Williams
It’s still unclear exactly what Williams’ timeline looks like as he recovers from a Week 9 ACL tear he sustained last season. The second-year DE won’t be able to participate in camp until he’s off the PUP list, although it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he stays on PUP when the regular season begins. That would mean he’s required to miss at least the first four weeks. A Week 5 return in 2026 after a Week 9 ACL tear in 2025 wouldn’t be completely out of the question. For now we’ll keep an eye out for updates on Williams who may be doing work on side fields during the team’s regular practice sessions.
DT Alfred Collins
Lynch said Collins is dealing with a shoulder injury, but it doesn’t sound like the ailment will keep him out for too long. The expectation is for the second year defensive tackle to be back for the team’s second round of training camp practices. It’s good news for Collins that he won’t miss significant time. He’s a player the club will be relying heavily on to improve their defensive line this season after putting together a handful of nice moments as a rookie. Those moments will need to become more consistent and the only way he’ll get there is by being on the practice field.
RB Isaac Guerendo
An offseason pectoral tear is a brutal blow for Guerendo who was set to enter training camp facing an uphill climb to a regular offensive role and perhaps a roster spot. He figures to be behind rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black and second-year fifth-round selection Jordan James in the team’s backup RB pecking order. Guerendo’s path to the team was likely going to go through the special teams units. It’s not immediately clear when he’ll be back, but missing even part of training camp is only going to limit his opportunities to earn his way on to the roster.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 3 key starters among 4 placed on PUP list by 49ers to start camp
