09/04/26 01:19:00
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09/04 13:18 CDT San Francisco 49ers arrive in Melbourne for historic NFL game
against the LA Rams
San Francisco 49ers arrive in Melbourne for historic NFL game against the LA
Rams
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) --- The San Francisco 49ers have arrived in Melbourne
for their season-opening NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground on Sept. 11.
It is expected to be the first of many regular-season NFL games in front of a
growing Australian fan base.
The 49ers' 200-member traveling party touched down on Friday morning after a
15-hour chartered Qantas flight and will spend a week acclimatizing before
facing the Rams in front of an expected sold-out crowd at the MCG.
The Niners arrived with injured stars George Kittle and Nick Bosa, who both
returned to practice and are hoping to play in the game. San Francisco will be
without defensive end Sam Okuayinonu, who injured his foot in practice this
week. Okuayinonu has been ruled out for the game. He had three sacks last
season.
The Rams are scheduled to arrive Thursday, only about 24 hours before the game.
The team's plan was to attempt to stay as close as possible to its west coast
U.S. time zone to avoid jet lag.
The game is scheduled for a Friday morning start in Australia so it can be
televised on Thursday evening during prime time in the eastern United States.
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