San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa will both travel to Australia for the team’s Sept. 10 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, with both players making meaningful progress in their recoveries from significant injuries, according to reports from NFL Network.
Kittle, recovering from a torn right Achilles suffered in the 49ers’ Jan. 11 playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 23 and is trending toward playing in Melbourne after two positive days of practice. He had insisted in the days after the injury that he would miss little if any of the 2026 season, attributing his optimism to the tear occurring higher up in his leg, which promotes better blood flow and recovery.
Bosa is making his return from a torn ACL suffered last September, his third ACL surgery overall and his second on his right knee. He did not practice for most of training camp but has been ramping up with his knee ahead of the opener.
Why both players matter for this game
The 49ers are opening the season against the Rams, who have Aaron Donald back from a two-year retirement and Myles Garrett, two of the most dominant defensive linemen of the modern era. Having Kittle and Bosa available, even in limited roles, changes the game planning and matchup considerations significantly.
Kittle is the most important offensive weapon the 49ers have, a uniquely physical tight end who creates blocking advantages in the run game while generating matchup problems in the passing game. Without him, San Francisco’s offense operates at a measurably lower ceiling.
Bosa is the team’s most important defensive player, a pass rusher capable of generating pressure without needing help. His absence from most of training camp raises questions about his conditioning and timing, but a healthy Bosa is among the best defensive players in the league.
The Australia game context
The 49ers and Rams are playing in Melbourne as part of the NFL’s international game series. The presence of both Kittle and Bosa, along with Aaron Donald’s potential debut for the Rams, gives the game a marquee quality that the NFL‘s international series has been working to establish as a feature of these events.
Neither player’s exact role or snap count for the opener has been specified. Kittle’s practice participation trend is positive but a torn Achilles recovery at less than eight months since the injury represents a compressed timeline for a player whose game requires significant physical demands. Bosa’s ramp-up from three ACL surgeries also requires careful management.
