Programming note: NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Bay Area will provide complete coverage of the 49ers’ season opener against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10. First, tune in to NBC Sports Bay Area at 4:30 p.m. PT for “49ers Pregame Live.” Then, switch over to NBC Bay Area or Netflix at 5:30 p.m. PT for the game broadcast. As soon as the game ends, flip back to NBC Sports Bay Area for “49ers Postgame Live.”MELBOURNE, Australia — Tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa are expected to suit up for the 49ers in their 2026 NFL regular-season opener.
But two of the team’s top players are not expected to see their usual high usage rate in the Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
“We got to be smart with that,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday, two days before the opening-week showdown against the Rams.
Kittle was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list two weeks ago. He sustained a torn right Achilles tendon in the 49ers’ wild-card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 11. He underwent surgery three days later. More info on: Nick Bosa, George Kittle