The San Francisco 49ers will have two of their biggest stars available for Thursday night's season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, as both George Kittle and Nick Bosa have been cleared to play despite recovering from significant injuries.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris confirmed that Bosa will take the field against the Rams. "Oh, he's going out there. Whatever you want to say, he's going. He'll be there. We're not hiding that," Morris said, via Harrison Rich of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bosa tore his ACL in a Sept. 21 game against the Cardinals and underwent surgery Sept. 26. The 28-year-old defensive end experienced soreness and tendinitis in his right knee during his recovery this summer, forcing the 49ers to scale back his activity until Sept. 2 when he returned to practice.
"Nick's a pro in everything he does, the ultimate pro," Morris said. "I definitely anticipate that because of who he is, and what he's done, and how he's gone about his process to get ready for this."
Tight end George Kittle also traveled with the team to Australia and appears likely to play, though his workload remains uncertain. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak expressed optimism about Kittle's availability.
"It's been pretty cool to see Kittle out there looking like himself, looking fresh," Kubiak said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. "How that affects him on game day and what the workload is, that will be determined. But he looks good to me. He's practicing full speed. He's getting a ton of reps. So I feel like we're in good shape."
Kittle tore his right Achilles in a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Eagles and underwent surgery three days later, with Rams team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache performing the repair.
Both players have dealt with injury concerns over the past two seasons. Bosa has not recorded a double-digit sack season since 2023, which was the last time he played all 17 games. He has appeared in only 17 games over the past two seasons, totaling 11 sacks.
Kittle made his seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries. He recorded 57 receptions for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in his limited action.
The return of both stars provides a major boost for the 49ers as they open the 2026 season. The game against the Rams represents a matchup between two of the top teams in the NFC, with potential playoff seeding implications down the line.
While Bosa appears set for his normal role, questions remain about how much the 49ers will use Kittle in his first game back from the Achilles injury. The team has been cautious with both players throughout their recovery processes, but their presence on the field gives San Francisco key weapons on both sides of the ball for the season opener.
