It will have been 237 days since the San Francisco 49ers last played meaningful football as they prepare to kick off the 2026 NFL season.
There has been roster turnover, a three-day draft, a free agency frenzy, important re-signings and trade windows, season-ending injuries, topped off with unusual videos from a wide receiver still technically on the roster but restricted from playing, and mix in some dubious personal decision-making from Kyle Shanahan and Jed York, and you've got yourself one helluva offseason!
First on the slate of the 2026 season is the Los Angeles Rams—selected by many as prohibitive Super Bowl favorites based on their overall talent, aggressive free agency, and trade pursuits. The fact that Sean McVay and other Rams brass petitioned to play this game in Australia, rather than Levi's South—aka SoFi Stadium—still feels like unnecessary gamesmanship.
Division teams always know their opponents well, and this opener will be no exception. McVay has the edge in the most important head-to-head matchup against Kyle Shanahan: victorious in the 2021 Championship Game. However, Shanahan has come out on top in 11 of the previous 18 matchups.
Two excellent coaches and offensive minds clash in this Week 1 NFC West showdown.
Here are five players to watch when the 49ers face the Rams at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia.
Jack Jones
One of the cornerbacks, Renardo Green, is dealing with an iffy hamstring, so presuming he's limited or can't go, Jack Jones will get the start. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is an all-world talent. While he's not considered a burner, the route-running, hands, and production are elite (eight 100+ yard receiving games in '25).
The coverage can be uneven at times, but Jones is physical, a good tackler, and has a knack for ball-hawking or securing turnovers. Anything resembling the latter would be a good sign for the 49ers, just as long as Nacua doesn't go off.
Kaelon Black
Running back Christian McCaffrey will assuredly get the bulk of the touches, and he's had good success against the Rams in the past (four touchdowns in four games). But the 49ers must lighten his load, and that's where rookie Kaelon Black comes in.
It was a small sample size during preseason, but five yards a pop is nothing to sneeze at. Black isn't known yet on the receiving front, but he can get downhill quickly and, if needed, stay in to block blitzes on long 3rd-down situations.
Ten touches may be too ambitious, but in the five or six that Black does get, gaining first downs or a ten-yard run could be doable. Anything north of that, production-wise, would be a pleasant surprise.
De'Zhaun Stribling
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall's injury during training camp was a definite gut punch. Tight end George Kittle is on track to play but is expected to be on a limited snap count. From a receiver standpoint, depending on how much or how little Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson play, and excluding Mike Evans, De'Zhaun Stribling should get plenty of targets.
During the preseason, Stribling showed strong hands, good speed, and yards-after-catch potential. Eight targets minimum is reasonable, with maybe even a deep ball attempt.
Trent Williams
Offensive tackle Trent Williams is entering his 16th season at age 38. The Rams defensive ends are legit between Kobie Turner and Brayden Fiske, but what makes this group stand out even more is defensive end Myles Garrett, who Williams will face off against.
In their previous two head-to-head matchups, Garrett has accounted for 12 pressures, but just one sack recorded. Williams did commit four penalties last season, but the 49ers can live with a Garrett sack allowed, just as long as it's not a momentum changer or game-altering.
Stars will score, but the battle starts in the trenches between these two future Hall of Famers.
Fred Warner
The ankle injury sustained last season was the first serious injury linebacker Fred Warner has endured in his career so far. And given the uncertainty on the 49ers defense to start this season, even more responsibility will be on Warner.
Defensive end Nick Bosa appears to be back, but the explosiveness and mobility are a question mark. And the sudden injuries of D-lineman Sam Okauyinonu and Alfred Collins hurt.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford delivers the ball within seconds, so sacks may be hard to come by, but his weapons can be neutralized, within reason. Assuming there are no ill effects from a repaired ankle, Warner can cover Tyler Higbee on a seam route, use instincts to shoot a gap to stop Kyren Williams on a 3rd-and-short, and deliver a big hit.
At least 10 tackles a game is the norm for Warner.
Mentioned in this article: Kaelon Black, Nick Bosa, Alfred Collins, Mike Evans, Renardo Green, Jack Jones, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling, Fred Warner, Trent Williams
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