The San Francisco 49ers will officially have tight end George Kittle and pass rusher Nick Bosa available for their 2026 NFL regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, according to reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Australia Opener Clears Star Duo
Kittle’s Rapid Achilles Recovery
Kittle’s return marks a remarkably rapid recovery after he sustained a torn Achilles on January 11. Initially placed on the physically unable to perform list at the opening of training camp, the veteran tight end was activated on August 23 and progressed quickly through subsequent practices, according to league reporting.
During the recovery process, Kittle pointed to the high placement of the tear in his leg—an area with stronger blood flow—as a primary reason for his optimism regarding an early return for the 2026 campaign.
When healthy, Kittle remains a future Hall of Famer, finishing the previous season with 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns across 11 games.
Bosa Back After Knee Rehabilitation
On the defensive side, Bosa is also cleared to play after spending the offseason recovering from an ACL tear suffered last September. While Bosa’s injury occurred months prior to Kittle’s, the pass rusher spent the training camp weeks ramping up conditioning for his knee.
Bosa told reporters that his recovery involved significant mental hurdles and daily physical fluctuations, but confirmed he feels ready for the opening matchup. The 49ers lost wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to an injury during training camp and managed lingering health concerns for veteran receiver Mike Evans, making the return of veteran leadership vital for the offense.
Rams Counter With Garrett and New Additions
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams enter the matchup dealing with their own high-profile roster updates. Defensive lineman Myles Garrett, who battled knee inflammation and managed limited practice participation over the previous several weeks, is fully cleared and off the injury report, according to league reports. The Rams also feature significant offseason additions on defense, establishing them among the early favorites in the conference.
Interior Defensive Line Concerns
San Francisco will be forced to play without second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins, whom Shanahan announced tore his patellar tendon during practice. Defensive tackle James Thompson remains listed as questionable due to a hamstring injury, leaving the 49ers thin at interior defensive line depth.
Kickoff for the regular-season opener between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in Australia is scheduled for next Friday, marking Thursday evening for U.S. viewers.
Related reading
