SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle said he expects to come off the physically unable to perform list before the start of the season and remains hopeful that his surgically repaired Achilles tendon will be healthy enough for him to play in Week 1.

For most of the process, Kittle said he has had to focus on doing as many seated and standing calf raises as possible every day.

Kittle is still keeping hope alive for a Week 1 return against the Rams, which would come a day shy of eight months since he tore his Achilles in the playoffs.