Overview
- The 49ers announced Friday that Sam Okuayinonu is out for the Week 1 game in Melbourne and has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury that kept him off the team flight.
- San Francisco signed veteran edge Khalid Kareem off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad and flew him to Melbourne to join the team as an urgent depth pickup.
- The club’s edge group is thin because Mykel Williams remains on PUP, Romello Height is dealing with an ankle issue, and Nick Bosa is managing knee tendinitis, leaving Keion White as the clearest healthy option.
- With Okuayinonu gone, the 49ers are expected to elevate practice-squad veterans such as Ogbo Okoronkwo and limit snap counts for remaining edge players to protect health and cover early-down run defense.
- The late injury was magnified by the long trip to Melbourne, which compressed preparation time and could force coordinator Raheem Morris to use more inside fronts and situational packages against the Rams.