49ers Set for Historic NFL Game in Australia: Kittle and Bosa Join the Team

The San Francisco 49ers are traveling to Australia to participate in the first NFL game on the continent. They will face their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, as they kick off the 2026 season.

This trip has fans excited because tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa are part of the traveling roster. Both players are key to Kyle Shanahan’s team and were reported to be on the flight with the rest of the squad.

Kittle is recovering from a torn Achilles sustained during the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11. Meanwhile, Bosa is rehabilitating from an ACL tear suffered in Week 3 last season and has been managing tendinitis throughout training camp.

“I would assume so,” Kittle stated last month when questioned about his participation in the game. “I mean, that probably makes the most sense. I would assume.”

The 49ers have faced challenges with player depth due to injuries, affecting new wide receiver Mike Evans and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, along with Kittle and Bosa. Additionally, Ricky Pearsall, a wide receiver, is sidelined with a PCL injury.

With Kittle and Bosa traveling to Australia, they might be ready to bolster the team as the regular season begins. Their availability should become clearer in the lead-up to the game against the Rams on September 10.

The game will kick off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at 10:35 a.m. Australian time, which corresponds to Friday morning for both teams, considering the time difference. The 49ers have made preparations to help players adjust to this before their matchup.

The Los Angeles Rams have returned MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford, and surprising developments include Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to join Myles Garrett on the defensive line after being traded from the Cleveland Browns.