The San Francisco 49ers are less than one week out from their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, and they've already touched down in Australia as they adjust to the major time change before the game.
The 49ers have been dealing with a ton of injuries ahead of the season, recently placing Sam Okuayinonu on Injured Reserve, but they are expected to have Nick Bosa and George Kittle available in Week 1, with both making the trip to Australia.
Bosa finally practiced in full for the first time this offseason earlier this week, as he's made his recovery from an ACL tear and then tendonitis that unexpectedly popped up this summer, raising concerns.
Speaking to the media, the defensive end acknowledged the difficulties with the recovery process and why the setback occurred.
"It was a long road," Bosa acknowledged. "There's some stuff I dealt with, with that patellar tendon, and then I kind of ramped it a little too fast with the football stuff a month ago or whatever it was. And that kind of told me to back off. I've just been trying to get it as strong and as confident as I can to where I could rip the Band-Aid off and go to team stuff today.
"Once you get into team, there's no reservations, there's no compensation … like there's no governor," Bosa said, via ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I felt that today. I remember my last ACL; there was a couple moments where you just have to go and you're kind of hoping for the best. Obviously, it's not going to be like anything crazy is going to happen, but you hope that your body is going to respond the way that you prepared it to. And there's a couple moments today where that happened. So, I'm just going to try and keep building, not get too up about it, but it was a great day."
Speaking on The TK Show ahead of the Australia trip, general manager John Lynch spoke on both Bosa and Kittle's recoveries, noting the expectation that both should make the trip and play.
"Yeah, I think that's fair to say, and the expectation is that they both are," Lynch said when asked if both were making the trip and playing in Week 1. "They both have been tracking very well. Now, as we've said many times, ideal, no, but I think given the circumstances, we feel very good about where they're at.
"Big day for Nick today. He's getting out on the practice field doing reps. That day was yesterday for George. George performed very well. His rehab has been outstanding, as has Nick's. Nick just, you know, people at different times during ACLs, it's kind of the norm. Nick is, I think we all know, blessed genetically, and I think in his other ACLs, hasn't had this hiccup. And, you know, I call it a hiccup, but most guys go through it and they get a little tendonitis. You have to back off. We didn't foresee that with Nick, but it happened. And so you adjust accordingly and feel very good about his ability. He trains so diligently. I think he's ready, and we'll see. Provided everything goes well here today, we'll expect Nick to be in uniform and making the impact he always does against the Rams."
Even if they unexpectedly don't suit up in Week 1, having both around the team was important for the organization, given how much time the 49ers are spending in Australia.
"Absolutely, [it's important for them to make the trip]," Lynch added. "I mean, there's certain guys who I always look over, and when you're coming off the field, there's Trent Williams, there's Kittle, there's Nick, Deebo gives you that sense. A lot of these players give you that sense, man. All right, this is pretty cool. And we've got a number of them. Mike Evans, we add to the mix. We've got a lot of top-end players, and we're fortunate to have that. Guys that will be in the conversation for Hall of Fame later after their careers are over, and they've earned that. And yeah, it is comforting, and it's comforting for teammates as well."
We'll see how much both players see the field in Week 1, as it'd make sense for both to be on a pitch count as they ramp up. But it's a good sign that the 49ers key injuries are starting to trend in the right direction ahead of Week 1.
