49ers pass rusher doesn't travel with team to Australia

The San Francisco 49ers could be without a key depth piece along the defensive line when they face the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10.

According to Pro Football Talk, the 49ers announced shortly before their departure that defensive end Sam Okuayinonu would not be making the trip with the team. Okuayinonu is dealing with a foot injury.

Interestingly, the 49ers have listed Okuayinonu as "questionable" for the game, suggesting he could still catch up with the team and play in the Week 1 NFC West showdown.

"Depending on how his foot responds to treatment in the coming days, it's possible that he'll fly to Australia separately," Pro Football Talk's
Michael David Smith wrote.

There is still plenty of time for that to happen. The 49ers are flying to Australia a full week before kickoff, allowing Okuayinonu to join the team later in the week if his foot responds well to treatment. The Rams, meanwhile, are not scheduled to arrive in Australia until a day before kickoff.

Another recovering defensive end, star pass rusher Nick Bosa, traveled with the 49ers. Bosa has been dealing with soreness and tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee after suffering an ACL injury on September 21, 2025. He returned to practice Wednesday and is confident he will suit up for Week 1.

Okuayinonu emerged as a valuable depth piece for the 49ers last season, recording 39 tackles and three sacks in 15 game appearances, including 12 starts. The performance brought his career sack total to 6.5.

If Okuayinonu is unable to make the trip later this week, the 49ers will have to lean on their other defensive line options against a Rams offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford.