09/06/26 09:58:00
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09/06 21:56 CDT The 49ers are refreshed in Australia and preparing for the
opener vs. the Rams
The 49ers are refreshed in Australia and preparing for the opener vs. the Rams
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) --- The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in
Australia, mostly gotten over the impact of the long flight and now are getting
prepared to open their season Friday in Melbourne against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Niners left California last Wednesday, arrived in Australia on Friday and
were set for their first practice of game week on Monday at AAMI Park in
Melbourne feeling mostly refreshed after players got a day to explore the city.
The Rams are still back home and won't arrive until Thursday.
"It took a couple days to adjust but feeling real good today," coach Kyle
Shanahan said. "Most of the city I've seen out of my window, I've gotten to go
on one walk. It's a little different for coaches. We're in the season so we're
not out much. But players had yesterday off so I know they got out a little bit
and they've spoken very highly of everything."
Some players went to an Australian Football League game at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground where the 49ers will face the Rams in the first NFL regular
season game ever played in the country.
Star running back Christian McCaffrey didn't make it to the game but heard
positive reports from his teammates. He has enjoyed his time here so far and is
glad the team got to make this long trip. He said the instructions from the
team's training staff made sure that the jet lag wasn't a big factor with the
main issue just being cooped up on a plane for so long.
But now he's refreshed and ready to play.
"We're fired up, man," he said. "This has been such a cool experience.
Obviously, there's a lot of question marks when you hear you're playing in
Australia, but since we've been here, man, it's been so cool. The people are
unbelievable. The food's incredible. The coffee's great. The atmosphere, you
can already feel it. It's just been a lot fun, so we're super fired up we're
here."
Shanahan wasn't so excited when it was first announced that San Francisco was
opening the season here instead of playing the Rams in a much shorter trip to
Los Angeles in front of what is usually a partisan 49ers crowd.
But his view has changed a bit after making the trip and hearing how many 49ers
supporters are expected at the game.
"That was nothing against Australia or anything, that's just about competition
and how important our 17 games are," he said. "It's cool for us just we always
have an advantage of having one, I see it as one home game a year in L.A., just
the way our fans are and take over that stadium. So it was disappointing to let
them off the hook and get them out of that. Knowing how our fans roll, I have a
feeling they won't be much different here. I expect to have a good showing. ...
After being here for a couple days like this is the right time to be here it's
the right place to be and it's right team to go against."
No injury updates for the 49ers
San Francisco held its first full practice of the week Monday in Australia,
which was still Sunday night back in California.
Shanahan typically gives an injury update on the first practice day of a game
week but opted against it because the Rams don't have to do it until they
practice on Monday in California, which will be Tuesday in Australia.
So any updates on the status of players like tight end George Kittle and
defensive end Nick Bosa will have to wait.
"Because we're technically in the future, from where we're from, and the Rams
are in the present, I don't have to talk about injuries until tomorrow.,"
Shanahan said. "So I'm not talking about them."
The one notable injury update Shanahan did give was that defensive end Sam
Okuayinonu broke his foot at the team's last practice before leaving on
Wednesday. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss most of the season.
The 49ers keep the same captains
The Niners kept the same eight captains for the season that they had last year.
Quarterback Brock Purdy will be joined by McCaffrey, Kittle, Bosa, Kyle
Juszczyk, Trent Williams, Fred Warner and Deommodore Lenoir.
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