The 49ers need Week 1 to start with a win, and that makes their trip to Australia feel even bigger. San Francisco went out of its way to arrive a week early, making sure it was ready for the Los Angeles Rams instead of showing up undercooked and paying for it.
That preparation matters even more now that Deebo Samuel is back in the mix. After Ricky Pearsall was lost for the season, the 49ers reunited with Samuel, and the move looks like it may have made them better. Among all the players on the roster, Samuel is the freshest, and that alone puts him in line for a heavy workload.
“It's been great. I've loved having Deebo back," said offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak. "I’ve loved his attitude, loved the way he's been working at practice every day, being willing to help our team in any way he needs to.
"And, you know, we got to get Deebo the ball. We got to get him his touches like he's going to get because he can affect the game in a lot of ways. And so, looking forward to seeing what Deebo can do.”
That sounds exactly like a player who is going to be featured early and often. Samuel gives San Francisco its best chance to create offense in a game where Brock Purdy may not have much time to operate.
The Rams are expected to create serious problems up front, and that means the 49ers can’t afford to sit back and ask Purdy to hold the ball. Quick throws are the cleaner path, and Samuel is the obvious outlet. He can take pressure off the quarterback and help blunt the pass rush.
There’s another angle here, too. The Rams’ linebackers are described as mediocre, which gives Samuel a chance to work into the second level and do damage after the catch. If he gets those matchups, he should be in position to win them.
De'Zhaun Stribling could also have a role in keeping the offense from becoming too predictable. The rookie’s after-the-catch ability makes him a useful complement, and the 49ers will want to avoid leaning so hard on Samuel that they wear him down too quickly.
Still, Samuel looks like the player most likely to tilt this game. With his freshness, his versatility and the way the 49ers can use him against the Rams’ defense, he has a real chance to go off in Week 1.
In Other News...
49ers Lose Another D Lineman As One Front Issue Grows
San Franciscos defensive front took another hit Monday when defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon, a setback that will keep him out for the entire season. Kyle Shanahan confirmed the injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a group that has already had to deal with its share of moving parts up front.
The 49ers are now looking at practice squad call-ups to patch the roster spot, a reminder that depth on the defensive line can disappear quickly over the course of a season. Collins is expected to be ready for training camp in 2026 if his recovery goes well, but for now the immediate concern is how San Francisco keeps its rotation intact without another key body in the middle. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Week 1 Just Got Tougher For A Reason Rams Fans Love
The Rams head into Week 1 in Australia without Aaron Donald, who will not play or travel for the opener, a blow any opponent would feel and one the 49ers will have to factor into their own early-season planning. Even with that absence, Los Angeles is still shaping up as a tricky opening test, especially with wide receiver Puka Nacua expected to be available as the league continues to sort through offseason allegations surrounding him.
Alaric Jackson is also expected to play despite a recent domestic violence charge, a situation that stands in contrast to other players who have landed on the NFL commissioner exempt list. For the 49ers, the bigger picture is simple: a divisional rival opens the year with key names on the field and one of the league's most disruptive defenders out of the mix, which changes the tone of the matchup even before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Face A Bigger Stability Question Than Fans Expected
The 49ers have already spent much of this offseason dealing with the usual roster-and-coaching chatter that follows a disappointing finish, but a new report is pushing the conversation higher up the ladder. Jason La Canfora, writing for Casino Guru, says there is unrest inside the ownership group and points to a turbulent stretch around the franchise, with anonymous sources describing personal conflicts within the York family and a sense that the organization is entering a more uncertain phase.
The report also folds in the departure of executive Paraag Marathe and broader speculation about the teams direction, including possible coaching changes and a decline in stability around the building. Even so, the claims come with a caution flag attached, given the questions that have followed La Canforas reporting in the past, which leaves this as the kind of story 49ers fans will keep an eye on rather than take at face value just yet. [Read more 🡒]