Rams, 49ers set for historic NFL opener in Melbourne with contrasting travel plans

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will kick off the NFL season Friday at 10:35 a.m. local time at Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the league's first regular-season game in Australia. The 49ers departed California on Wednesday, September 3, and held their first game-week practice Monday at AAMI Park after players spent Sunday exploring the city. The Rams plan to fly out Tuesday night, treating the trip as a quick business visit before returning home immediately after the game.

Coach Sean McVay said the Rams' approach mirrors a Friday evening departure for players, who will sleep through the flight and maintain their normal routine. "I'm not going to really make it a big deal," McVay said. "Our expectation is our guys will be ready to go." San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the adjustment took a couple of days but said the team feels good. Left tackle Trent Williams said his body felt normal after 36–48 hours and "really normal" by day three or four.

“To me it's tomatoes to tomato, so whatever you believe in. The good thing about it is when you play a game, you've got a lot of adrenaline, so I don't think that will be as big as a factor as people think.”

Defensive personnel decisions sharpened the matchup picture this week. The 49ers confirmed star edge rusher Nick Bosa will play, per defensive coordinator Raheem Morris: "He's going. We are not hiding that." Bosa, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, appeared in three games last season before an ACL tear. For Los Angeles, Myles Garrett will suit up after managing left-knee swelling through camp, but Aaron Donald will not play or travel, the team announced Tuesday. Donald, 35, returned from a two-year retirement but the Rams are taking a day-by-day approach with his reintegration.

Both coaches downplayed the travel disparity. Williams called the competing strategies "tomatoes to tomato" and predicted adrenaline would neutralize any advantage. McVay emphasized player-driven decision-making, while Shanahan noted his initial reluctance faded after learning how many 49ers fans are expected. The game airs Thursday at 5:35 p.m. PT in the United States.