ORLANDO, Fla. — George Kittle and Charvarius Ward underwent successful core muscle surgery this offseason, 49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday.
Lynch, speaking to local Bay Area media at the NFL Annual Meeting, noted Kittle and Ward should be ready to return to full action at the start of training camp. The organization will play it safe with its players during the earlier offseason program.
“[Ward will] probably be a training camp guy,” Lynch said. “He’s already moving. He’s doing great, he’s been around and he’s doing well with that. Kittle is on the same plan. That’s a conservative time. We could rush that, but why in the offseason? They will be moving and things, but in talking full action, that’s the expected timetable.”
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Ward confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area in February that he underwent the procedure after posting a photo of himself shortly after the surgery.
Ward suffered the injury in Week 14 after just four defensive snaps, but he was able to rehab and manage the injury through the rest of the season. The Pro Bowl cornerback played the majority of the 49ers' defensive snaps outside of their Week 18 contest, where most starters didn't play beyond the end of the first half.
There was no specific point of injury for Kittle, but it had bothered the tight end over time. The All-Pro decided it was in his best interest to have the procedure after the end of the season in order to give himself time to heal by the start of training camp.
“I’ve had that surgery myself when I was playing, and it’s a pretty high success rate of healing,” Lynch said. “It feels a lot better once you get it done because it hurts constantly having that core tugging at you.”
San Francisco 49ers
Caution during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp will help prevent any complications in Kittle and Ward’s rehabilitation, and both should be available for the 49ers' 2024 season opener.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast