No kangaroos or crocodiles, but SF 49ers’ practice is in Shanahan sights

MELBOURNE, Australia – Coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t explored much three days into the 49ers’ encampment here, but a brief walkabout allowed him to form a first impression of his surroundings.

“I don’t see kangaroos and crocodiles everywhere. It looks like a very cool city,” Shanahan quipped.

All attention is now on preparing for their regular-season opener in four days against the yet-to-arrive Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Running back Christian McCaffrey said his sleep pattern is already adjusted, and the fact the 49ers practiced all training camp in the late mornings means they’re all set for their 10:35 a.m. AUST kickoff here Friday.

Of course, they now know where to go for an early jolt of caffeine, if necessary.

“The coffee is unbelievable,” McCaffrey said. “I don’t know why nobody talked about as much as they should have beforehand. The food is awesome and the people are really nice, too. It’s been a really cool experience for all of us.”

Shanahan balked at an Australian adventure when first apprised in February that the 49ers would be part of it. After all, he counts the 49ers’ annual visit to the Rams’ SoFi Stadium as a pseudo-home game because of the widespread presence of 49ers’ fans, which he now expects to see here in Melbourne.

“This is the right time to be here, the right place to be and the right team to go against,” Shanahan said.

NO BOSA SIGHTING

Defensive end Nick Bosa was not seen during the media’s 30-minute window during warmups. However, he was shown on a team-issued, social-media video walking out with teammates to the field prior to practice’s start.

He returned to practice last Wednesday after a month off because of his right-knee pain, but declared afterward he felt great and certain he would play in the opener.

Romello Height and Grayson Halton, rookies who’ve been saddled with ankle injuries, were among 10 defensive linemen participating. Fellow rookie James Thompson Jr. was suited up but restricted to conditioning on the side with a trainer.

KITTLE ON TRACK

Tight end George Kittle continues to fuel optimism his Achilles comeback indeed could happen. Kittle has taken part in every practice since coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list two weeks ago.

McCAFFREY WORKS ON SIDE

McCaffrey was not part of the offensive or running back warmups, though he did not appeared hindered as he worked on the side with a trainer.

Kaelon Black lined up at running back with the first-string unit in its initial setup; Connor Colby was at left guard, although Carver Willis did offensive line warmups next to left tackle Trent Williams.

RETURN MEN

Jacob Cowing (hip) practiced for the first time in a week and fielded punts, along with practice-squad addition Brandon Codrington, Deebo Samuel and Jack Jones.

OTHER PRACTICE SIGHTS

This was a non-padded session with players in shorts and sweats, starting at 1 p.m. AUST and under partly sunny skies with a 58-degree temperature.

Pro Bowl special teammer Luke Gifford (hamstring) was back in action with the seven-man linebacker unit.

Cornerback Renardo Green (hamstring) looked solid in warmups and on track to start next to Deommodore Lenoir. Safety Malik Mustapha (hamstring) returned to action last week and was participating.

Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling shadowed veteran Mike Evans as warmups began.

Kicker Eddy Piñeiro sat in the shade while defensive players warmed up on the side of the field with the lone field-goal posts at AAMI, which usually hosts rugby-league and soccer matches.

INJURY UPDATES

The 49ers’ first official injury report is not due until almost 48 hours after Shanahan’s media session Monday here in Melbourne. Because this is a Friday game locally, the NFL’s reporting policy means the 49ers are not obligated to report Monday’s participations, and their Tuesday session can be delayed until after the Rams are done back in California, so approximately Wednesday 8:30 a.m. AUST (Tuesday 3:30 p.m. PT).

“Because we’re technically in the future from where we’re from (Santa Clara) and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” Shanahan said.

However, he did reveal that defensive end Sam Okuayinonu sustained a foot fracture in Wednesday’s final practice in Santa Clara, thus his move onto Injured Reserve.

The 17-hour time difference, the International Dateline crossover, and the different locations of both teams complicate when those official participation reports are distributed.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Shanahan said the 49ers’ captains are the same as last season: McCaffrey, defensive end Nick Bosa, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, quarterback Brock Purdy, left tackle Trent Williams, and linebacker Fred Warner.

In 2024, wide receiver Deebo Samuel was a captain; he returned to the club this season.

QB-CENTER EXCHANGE

Shanahan said he designated the best seats on the 49ers’ 16-hour charter for the supersized linemen and then others spots based on seniority.

Purdy fittingly sat behind center Jake Brendel, to which Shanahan joked: “They were doing snaps for 17 straight hours. No that was just luck.”

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Unlike a normal NFL week, the 49ers are not opening their locker room to reporters, and instead players are being brought to a podium for interviews. Monday’s initial subjects were slated to be McCaffrey, Warner, and wide receiver Mike Evans, the latter of whom will make his 49ers’ debut (No. 5 jersey) after playing the past 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Purdy is scheduled to speak Tuesday here.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is not holding a press conference this week but is doing separate interviews with Australian media and each team’s radio broadcasters.

RAMS UPDATES

Defensive end Myles Garrett and unretired defensive tackle Aaron Donald practiced Sunday with the Rams back in rainy Woodland Hills, according to the Southern California News Group. Garrett, acquired in an offseason trade from Cleveland, had missed over two weeks over practice with knee swelling. Also participating was wide receiver Puka Nacua, who’s battled core and lower back issues.

Shanahan noted that he’s prepared the past month as if Donald would unretire and indeed play against the 49ers. Whereas two years ago he heard cheers erupt in the 49ers’ building when Donald announced his retirement, the “opposite” emotions were felt when Donald confirmed his return last week.

Rams coach Sean McVay said he expects both Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson to play in the opener; both are being independently investigated by the league for off-field conduct.

CONFUSING CALENDAR

Shanahan said the 49ers have approached this week as a normal, regular-season routine, meaning their game plan is being shared and installed for the first time in meetings and at practice on Monday here.

“We’re a little confused,” Shanahan said. “When I look at my clock and it says the time, then I see my family’s time and it says yesterday, I don’t get how that’s possible, so I feel I’m in the future.”

He wasn’t done sharing how confusing this can be.

“Then we play on a Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the U.S., we’re such creatures of habit, so I call today Tuesday,” Shanahan added. “No wait, sorry, I call today Wednesday, which is the first day we put in a game plan, but I think it’s Monday, however that’s Sunday (P.T.) in the present. So I’m going to mess that up all week if you guys ask me.

“Today is just our first day of the game plan which is a (usual) Wednesday. We’ll put in some on Thursday (Tuesday AUST). Friday (or Wednesday AUST) is the final part of the game plan. Saturday (Thursday AUST) we walk though. And we play on Sunday, which is a Friday in Australia and a Thursday in the U.S. Don’t ever make me do that again.”