The 49ers got a major boost just before kickoff, with George Kittle cleared for Thursday’s season opener against the Rams.
San Francisco removed Kittle from its latest injury report, putting the tight end in line to play after he tore his Achilles in January and targeted a Week 1 return. What once looked like a long shot now appears to be on schedule, and Kittle is available to help the 49ers in the first-ever NFL International Series game played in Australia.
That kind of recovery is not a common one. An eight-month timeline to come all the way back from an Achilles injury is rare, which is why plenty of people had already written off the idea of Kittle being ready this early. Instead, he’s back in time for a big NFC West matchup and should be a central part of how San Francisco attacks Los Angeles.
Kittle has been one of the 49ers’ most dangerous weapons when healthy. He went over 1,000 receiving yards in both 2023 and 2024, and he was tracking toward another big year last season before a hamstring injury cost him several games. A five-time All-Pro, he remains one of the top options on the roster.
San Francisco also got encouraging news on the defensive side, with Nick Bosa expected back along the line. Bosa, one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, played only three games last season because of a torn ACL. His return gives the 49ers another significant piece as they open the year, and the combination of Kittle and Bosa should make Week 1 look a lot different for San Francisco.
In Other News...
Rams Defense Has A Chris Shula Problem That Keeps Getting Worse
The Rams defense entered the season with real expectations after a stretch of uneven play down the back half of last year, but Week 1 only sharpened the scrutiny around Chris Shulas unit. NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky did not hold back after the loss, pointing to a defense that has too often let opposing quarterbacks settle in and control games since December.
For Los Angeles, the concern is bigger than one bad Sunday because the pattern has kept showing up against quality opponents, including the rough outing against the 49ers. The pressure now sits on Shula to find answers quickly, because the Rams do not just need a cleaner game plan, they need a defense that stops looking vulnerable whenever the test gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Bosa's 49ers Return Took A Strange Turn After The Rams Win
Nick Bosas return to the 49ers lineup in the season opener against the Rams was supposed to be the biggest subplot, and on the field it was easy to see why. Coming back from a torn ACL, he still made an impact with four tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit, giving San Francisco a familiar spark in a rivalry game that had plenty of edge from the start.
The strange part came after the game, when a social media post began circulating that falsely put words in Bosas mouth about honoring Charlie Kirk. He never said it, and the hoax fit a pattern that has already hit other NFL players, including George Kittle and C.J. Stroud. For a player trying to reestablish himself after a long rehab, it was an unwelcome reminder that the noise around a big return can follow him well beyond the stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Loss To 49ers Raises An Early Question Fans Feared
The Rams opened with plenty to sort through after a lopsided loss to the 49ers, a game that exposed issues on both sides of the ball and left the offense searching for a steadier rhythm. Matthew Stafford finished 15 of 25 for 155 yards with one interception, and while he was kept clean in the pocket, the Rams never found much consistency to match San Franciscos pace.
Los Angeles did get a late push from backup quarterback Stetson Bennett, who helped steer a drive at the end, but the broader concern was what came before it. The Rams allowed multiple touchdown passes to 49ers receivers Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel, a reminder that early-season defensive questions can become very loud very quickly if the offense is not giving enough help back the other way. [Read more 🡒]