The San Francisco 49ers have departed for Australia with tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa among the players making the trip, according to multiple reports. The team is en route to participate in the first-ever NFL game on the continent against the Los Angeles Rams on September 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET (10:35 a.m. local time) at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Kittle, who tore his right Achilles in the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11, and Bosa, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 of the 2025 season, have both been recovering from injuries. Their inclusion on the travel roster suggests progress in their recoveries, though their availability for the season opener remains uncertain.
Team Preparations and Injury Context
The 49ers left for Australia on Wednesday, eight days before the game, to acclimate to the 17-hour time difference. Head coach Kyle Shanahan previously indicated that Kittle’s travel would signal his readiness to play, stating on Monday, “If we didn’t think he was going to play though, and it was looking that way, I think it’d be much nicer to make that decision before we left instead of having him go through all that.”
Bosa has also faced setbacks, including tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee during training camp. 49ers general manager John Lynch noted that Bosa’s recovery plan has been adjusted to manage the issue, saying, “Nick’s pretty blessed with tremendous genes and was going along great. So, the intention when he came back was that he was right. When he upped the activity, he got sore. And so he backed off, and we put together a really good plan that we believe will have him ready for Australia.”
Broader Team Context
The 49ers have dealt with significant injury concerns this offseason, including losses to wide receiver Mike Evans, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and rookie Ricky Pearsall due to injuries. Kittle and Bosa’s presence on the travel roster provides optimism for the team’s depth heading into the regular season.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has previously expressed interest in expanding the league’s international footprint, stating, “No doubt [the league wants multiple teams based outside the U.S.].” The game in Australia marks a historic milestone for the NFL’s global expansion efforts.