Nick Bosa looks on track to be in the lineup when the 49ers open against the Rams, and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks didn’t sound remotely worried about the edge rusher’s status.
“Nick Bosa is really easy,” Morris said. “You watch this guy do it over a span, a long time in his career, been able to do it at different levels.
… Bosa knows his body as well as anybody. He’ll be prepared and ready to go as well as anybody.”
Bosa was on the practice field Tuesday, taking part in warmups and position drills. He also had the same black sleeve on his right knee that he wore last Wednesday, and he appeared to be adjusting it frequently.
Another 49ers story line centered on Kareem, the newest addition to the roster, who arrived after a chaotic few days that started when the Giants cut him on Aug. 31. Two days later, the Falcons added him to their practice squad, and then the 49ers came calling the next day with a simple demand: get to Australia.
The travel was no joke. The 49ers’ charter featured 84 lie-flat seats, but Kareem’s path was far less comfortable. He first flew to the Bay Area on Thursday morning for a physical, then boarded an 11:20 p.m. flight out of San Francisco that night.
While his new teammates had a day to get used to the 17-hour time difference, Kareem landed Saturday morning and was immediately sent to his first 49ers practice.
Even with the long haul, he said he felt better than expected. The 49ers did give him a lie-flat-ish seat on a United Airlines flight, though he admitted it still wasn’t ideal for his frame.
“It was cool,” he said. “I don’t think I’d ever sat in one of those before.
But being my size, it’s still a little too small. My feet were mashed up against the wall.
So I was kind of tucked in the fetal position, trying to sleep.”
The team also laid out a flight plan for him, covering everything from how much he should drink to when he should sleep to how often he should wear blue-light glasses.
“I had a little flight kit - melatonin and a hydration package just to help me sleep, so that when I got here, I could perform,” he said. “When I got here, it was a pretty smooth transition.”
Kyle Shanahan, meanwhile, had a little fun when asked about the team’s adjustment to the 15-hour flight and the time difference.
“Each guy’s different,” he said. “Some guys feel good and feel great, and then you talk to them five hours later, they’re like, ‘Never mind, that left.’ Some guys started off bad and then feel good later.”
He also got a question about the seating arrangement on the plane, where Brock Purdy was behind center Jake Brendel.
“They were doing snaps for 17 straight hours,” Shanahan deadpanned. “No, that was just luck.”
There was also some perspective on the bigger picture of the 49ers’ season, with a prediction that they could finish 12-5 despite the travel-heavy closing stretch. The team’s final four games include trips to the Chargers on a Thursday night, the Chiefs and Arizona, with a home game against the Eagles in between.
That projection pointed to the Chargers and Cardinals as short trips that shouldn’t be too taxing, especially with seven Levi’s games and a bye from Week 2 through Week 14. The view was that if the 49ers avoid another wave of injuries, they should at worst split those games 2-2, with 3-1 or 4-0 also possible.
The prediction had them losing to the Chargers but, with extra rest, beating the Chiefs, Eagles and Cardinals to finish 12-5, good for another solid wild-card position. It also noted that the 49ers are better than they were last year, even if the schedule is tougher, and that the travel concerns matter even if they’re being overstated.
The bottom line was simple: a strong team should be able to handle it, and the 49ers are considered strong enough to keep pace with Seattle and the Rams and get back to the postseason.
In Other News...
Grant Cohn Is Somehow Becoming Part Of The 49ers Opener Story
The 49ers trip to Australia for their international opener against the Rams has produced the usual flood of game-week content, but one familiar Bay Area voice has become part of the conversation for a different reason. Grant Cohn, the veteran reporter known for his sharp criticism of San Francisco, has drawn attention overseas not for a practice note or matchup breakdown, but for the way he has documented the experience around the game.
His social media posts about local food and cultural stops have caught on with audiences well beyond the standard football crowd, turning a routine road assignment into something of a sideshow. Cohn has long been a polarizing figure around the 49ers because of his public clashes with players and the confrontational style he often brings to his coverage, and now even that reputation is being folded into a story that started with the opener itself. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuels New Role Puts 49ers Rookie In Week 1 Spotlight
DeZhaun Stribling has quietly climbed into a meaningful spot on the 49ers preseason depth chart, and the timing could not be better for a team sorting through injuries and shifting roles at receiver before Week 1 against the Rams. The rookie has moved up enough to be considered for a significant offensive role, and the latest chart points to him lining up as a starting wideout alongside Mike Evans.
Deebo Samuels designation as the primary kick returner adds another layer to the picture, hinting at a reduced load on offense and opening the door for Stribling to see real early-season snaps. For a San Francisco passing game already adjusting on the fly, the rookies next chance may come right away, and it will be worth watching how quickly the staff leans into that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
49ers First Injury Report Raises An Early Lineup Concern
The first injury report of the season gave the 49ers an immediate dose of reality, with several familiar names showing up before the week has even really settled in. Nick Bosa and George Kittle were both listed, and the report also brought a new concern on the defensive side when rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins appeared for the first time with a knee injury. It is the kind of early-week update that can quickly shape how a staff approaches practice, especially when core pieces are already under the microscope.
For now, the encouraging part is who was not there. Christian McCaffrey was absent from the report, and Mike Evans also did not appear, which helps keep at least some of the focus on the players who are actually dealing with issues. Still, Collins new injury designation stands out as the one to monitor, because even in September, the 49ers know how quickly a depth concern can become a bigger storyline if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]