Nick Bosa and Christian McCaffrey did not take part in the on-field work open to reporters during the San Francisco 49ers’ first full Week 1 practice in Melbourne, adding two major names to the list of players whose workloads will be watched closely before Thursday’s opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
The situation is not yet an official injury-report alarm. Because of the unusual international schedule and the timing difference between the 49ers and Rams, San Francisco was not required to submit a standard participation report after Monday’s session in Australia. Head coach Kyle Shanahan therefore did not provide formal injury designations.
Still, the practice snapshot matters. Bosa is returning from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season after three games and from knee soreness and tendinitis that interrupted his 2026 training camp. McCaffrey was present but did his work off to the side during the media viewing period. Tight end George Kittle, meanwhile, participated in individual drills as he continues his own return.
FSN’s San Francisco 49ers team hub has the 2026 roster and schedule, and the 49ers-Rams Game Center has the Melbourne opener.
Bosa’s absence is notable because his comeback has been carefully managed
Bosa’s path to Week 1 has never been a normal training-camp ramp-up. He is coming back from a torn ACL, the second ACL injury of his NFL career, and he dealt with soreness and tendinitis in the repaired knee after being medically cleared.
That forced the 49ers to pull back his workload for several weeks. He returned to team work last week and afterward said the session increased his confidence that he could play in the opener. He has also been direct about his intention to be on the field against Los Angeles.
Monday’s absence from the media-viewing portion of practice therefore has to be read in that larger context. It could be planned management after a long flight and a recent return to full-speed football. It could also reflect the same knee workload that has dictated his schedule throughout camp.
Without an official participation designation, the most responsible conclusion is that Bosa remains on a carefully controlled ramp toward Thursday, not that his Week 1 availability suddenly changed.
McCaffrey’s workload is a different question
McCaffrey did not participate in the drills open to reporters, but there was no official injury designation attached to the absence Monday. He was on the field and was seen working separately.
For a veteran running back whose regular-season workload will be significant, the 49ers have every reason to manage practice volume after the trip to Australia. The key is what happens when San Francisco begins filing formal reports.
If McCaffrey appears on the injury report with a specific issue, that will create a different story. If he returns to practice or receives a rest-related designation, Monday will look more like workload management than a new injury concern.
That distinction is especially important because the 49ers’ offense is structured around McCaffrey’s versatility. His rushing, receiving and motion usage allows Shanahan to move defenses before the snap and create mismatches without changing personnel.
Kittle’s participation is the positive counterweight
George Kittle took part in individual work Monday, a meaningful sign as he pushes toward the opener. Kittle’s return matters on its own and also because the 49ers recently had to juggle the tight end room around his recovery.
Several other players who had missed time also practiced during the media-open portion, including cornerback Renardo Green, wide receiver Jacob Cowing and defensive linemen Romello Height and Gracen Halton. Mike Evans also worked after dealing with an adductor issue.
That broader participation matters because San Francisco’s concern is not simply whether Bosa or McCaffrey is on the field. The team needs enough healthy bodies across the roster to avoid entering an international opener with multiple position groups operating on emergency plans.
The Melbourne schedule makes normal injury-report reading harder
The 49ers arrived in Australia earlier than the Rams and are operating several time zones ahead of the NFL’s normal reporting rhythm. Shanahan joked that because his team was technically in the future while Los Angeles was still in the present, he did not have to discuss injuries until the following day.
The joke points to a real complication for fans trying to interpret practice participation. Monday’s session was a full football workday for the 49ers, but it did not map cleanly onto the league’s usual Wednesday-Thursday-Friday reporting sequence.
That means the first official designation will carry more weight than usual. It will tell us whether Bosa and McCaffrey were absent for planned management or whether either player is dealing with a condition that could alter Thursday’s plan.
Why Bosa’s status matters even more against this Rams front
The Rams have spent the offseason loading their defense with star power, including Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald. FSN recently examined how Donald’s comeback changes the Rams’ defensive ceiling.
San Francisco’s defense needs its own difference-makers available because the opener could become a game of high-leverage possessions. Bosa is the 49ers’ best pure pass rusher. If he is limited, the defense loses some of its ability to create pressure without blitzing and must lean more heavily on the rest of the front.
That does not mean San Francisco cannot function without a full Bosa workload, but the margin becomes smaller against a veteran Rams offense led by Matthew Stafford.
What to watch next
The next practice and the first formal participation report are the key checkpoints.
For Bosa, watch whether he returns to team work and whether the knee receives a limited, full or non-participation designation. For McCaffrey, watch whether the 49ers list an injury at all or simply continue managing his practice load. For Kittle, continued participation would strengthen the expectation that he is on track for Thursday.
The 49ers do not need all three stars to practice every rep in Melbourne. They do need enough evidence over the next two days to be confident those players can handle their planned roles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Monday did not provide a definitive answer. It did provide the first Week 1 reminder that San Francisco’s season opens with several of its most important players still being managed carefully.