After weeks of uncertainty, a decision has been made: San Francisco 49ers stars George Kittle and Nick Bosa will board the team's Wednesday flight to Melbourne, Australia, for the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
That does not necessarily mean both players are locks to play Sept. 10. Kittle is in the late stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered in January; he took part in San Francisco's final three practices ahead of the team's departure. Bosa is dealing with the lingering effects of a second ACL tear in his right knee; he participated in drills during the open portion of Wednesday's practice for the first time since Aug. 3, sporting a black sleeve on his right knee.
Even if Bosa and Kittle aren't yet guaranteed to take the field at Melbourne Cricket Ground, these developments signal there's a strong chance they will. It seems unlikely the 49ers would send either player to Melbourne without - at the very least - intending for them to suit up against the Rams.
Asked Monday if the decision to play or sit Kittle had to be made by Wednesday's flight, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It'd be much nicer to make that decision before we go instead of having him go through all that." But he noted that Kittle spending 10 days away from the medical staff and out of team meetings is a "big deal," even if he isn't going to play.
Other players who returned to practice Wednesday: wide receiver Mike Evans (adductor), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and defensive back Ephesians Prysock (shoulder). Evans, who worked off to the side Tuesday, appears to be on track to play in Week 1.
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That does not necessarily mean both players are locks to play Sept. 10. Kittle is in the late stages of his recovery from a torn Achilles suffered in January; he took part in San Francisco's final three practices ahead of the team's departure. Bosa is dealing with the lingering effects of a second ACL tear in his right knee; he participated in drills during the open portion of Wednesday's practice for the first time since Aug. 3, sporting a black sleeve on his right knee.
Even if Bosa and Kittle aren't yet guaranteed to take the field at Melbourne Cricket Ground, these developments signal there's a strong chance they will. It seems unlikely the 49ers would send either player to Melbourne without - at the very least - intending for them to suit up against the Rams.
Asked Monday if the decision to play or sit Kittle had to be made by Wednesday's flight, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It'd be much nicer to make that decision before we go instead of having him go through all that." But he noted that Kittle spending 10 days away from the medical staff and out of team meetings is a "big deal," even if he isn't going to play.
Other players who returned to practice Wednesday: wide receiver Mike Evans (adductor), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (finger) and defensive back Ephesians Prysock (shoulder). Evans, who worked off to the side Tuesday, appears to be on track to play in Week 1.
#play
2 days ago
