The San Francisco 49ers will have star defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle available for their season-opening game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The Rams, however, will be without their prominent defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.
Donald, who recently came out of retirement, will not accompany the Rams for the international game, coach Sean McVay announced. This development significantly favors the 49ers, who were preparing for the possibility of facing Donald in the matchup.
Bosa and Kittle, both crucial players for the 49ers, practiced fully in Australia. Bosa had been recovering from complications with a knee surgery last September, missing most of training camp. Kittle also returned to practice after undergoing surgery for an Achilles tendon tear approximately nine months ago. Both players' recoveries were considered remarkable given the typical timelines for such injuries.
"Oh, Nick Bosa? Oh, he's going out there," Raiders defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said of Bosa's availability. "He'll be there. We're not hiding that." Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak added about Kittle, "He looks good to me. He's practicing full speed. He's getting a ton of reps. So, I feel like we're in good shape."
The 49ers appear to have an advantage in player availability, a notable shift given their location and the international dateline. While the Rams opted for a strategy of arriving closer to game time, seemingly prioritizing later games in the season, the 49ers have had players practicing with nearly full participation since arriving in Australia.
The absence of Donald is expected to alleviate pressure on the 49ers' offensive line, particularly at left guard, a position that has seen an undecided battle during training camp. This allows coordinators to focus on other aspects of the game without needing to devise extensive blocking schemes against one of the league's most formidable pass rushers.
For the 49ers' defense, the return of Bosa is a significant boost. The team had experienced other defensive line injuries, including a broken foot suffered by Sam Okuayinionu and the recent return of rookie Romello Height from an ankle injury. The addition of Bosa provides a critical pass-rushing element.
Quarterback Brock Purdy expressed confidence in Kittle's return. "All I know is he went hard," Purdy said of Kittle's rehabilitation. "He wanted to get back to play with the boys and to give this organization everything he's got. So, that's George."
The 49ers seem to have gained momentum heading into the Thursday night game, with most of their roster participating in practice since their arrival. The Rams' approach suggests a long-term view of the season, while the 49ers appear poised to field their key players for the international opener.