San Francisco 49ers face roster cuts and injuries ahead of Australia trip

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their 2026 NFL season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, while facing significant roster and injury challenges. Before the season begins, the team must trim its roster to 53 players.

Injuries have heavily impacted several key position groups. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is out for the season due to knee surgery, leaving rookie De'Zhaun Stribling as a prominent option. Other players dealing with injuries include Christian Kirk, Jacob Cowing, and running backs Christian McCaffrey and Isaac Guerendo. At quarterback, Brock Purdy and Mac Jones are set, though the status of Kurtis Rourke remains uncertain following a preseason injury.

Off-field issues also persist, notably involving Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk has faced public fallout with the franchise and has not applied for reinstatement, resulting in a frozen contract and no salary. Additionally, head coach Kyle Shanahan dealt with limited availability early in training camp following a car accident.