Kyle Shanahan found a creative way to handle injury questions before the San Francisco 49ers‘ historic NFL season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The game will start at 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday in the USA.
Speaking from Melbourne, Shanahan joked that the massive time difference put San Francisco “in the future” compared with California. That allowed him to avoid giving an early injury update under the NFL’s reporting schedule.
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“Because we are technically in the future, and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” Shanahan said.
The joke came while Shanahan discussed the difficulty of adjusting his internal clock. Australia sits 17 hours ahead of Eastern Time, creating unusual scheduling challenges for the 49ers.
“We’re a little confused with when I look at my clock, and it says the time, and then I try to see my family’s time, and it says the time, but it says yesterday,” Shanahan said. “I don’t get how that’s possible. So I feel like I’m in the future.”
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San Francisco is going to spend a week in Australia preparing for Friday’s local kickoff. The 49ers will face the Rams at 10:35 a.m. local time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
That preparation matters because the Rams chose a different approach. Los Angeles plans to arrive shortly before the matchup, while San Francisco has focused on adjusting its sleep and training routines.
Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) talks with his teammate at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
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The injury situation makes Shanahan’s timing joke more relevant. San Francisco lost defensive end Sam Okuayinonu to a fractured foot, while Nick Bosa and George Kittle have managed their respective recoveries.
The 49ers cannot afford major losses against a Rams team capable of stressing their defense and forcing long offensive possessions. Shanahan’s approach also protects competitive information before the teams take the field.
Christian McCaffrey has praised San Francisco’s detailed preparation for the unusual trip. Players received guidance covering sleep, nutrition, supplements and daily routines.
“There were big packets on the plane…,” McCaffrey said. “So any questions you think you would have had, they answered it in these packets.”
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Now, the bigger issue remains execution. The 49ers changed their routine to handle the international setting, but their roster still must perform under unfamiliar conditions.
Shanahan’s comments added humor to an otherwise serious preparation week. Now, his players must turn that preparation into a strong opening performance against a familiar division rival.
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