49ers Defensive End Sam Okuayinonu Stays Home With Foot Injury Ahead of Australia Opener

The San Francisco 49ers are heading to Melbourne for their Week 1 clash against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but they will make the long trip without one of their rotational edge defenders. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu is not on the team’s flight after suffering a foot injury, according to reporting from NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, part of the NBC Sports coverage operation run by Comcast Corporation — shares of which closed at $26.81, down 0.26% on the day.

Because the 49ers departed roughly a week before kickoff to adjust to the time change and travel distance, there is still a window for Okuayinonu’s status to change. Maiocco reported that the 28-year-old is officially considered questionable for the contest despite remaining in the Bay Area.

Okuayinonu’s Role in San Francisco

Okuayinonu has carved out a meaningful role since joining the 49ers. After appearing for the Tennessee Titans as a rookie in 2022 and sitting out most of the 2023 season, he has spent the past two campaigns in San Francisco. Across that stretch, he has appeared in 31 games, logging 74 tackles, 14 quarterback hits, six sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass defensed.

Thinning Edge Rotation

His absence would compound an already strained depth chart at defensive end. Mykel Williams is on injured reserve, while Nick Bosa and Romello Height are each managing their own injuries as the opener approaches.

If Bosa, Height and Okuayinonu were all unavailable, San Francisco’s edge rotation against veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford would likely consist of Keion White, Ogbo Okoronkwo and VJ Anthony — a group that would shoulder an unusually heavy workload against a division rival.

What to watch

• Updated injury designations for Okuayinonu, Bosa and Height as kickoff in Melbourne approaches.
• Whether Okuayinonu makes a later flight to Australia or is ruled out ahead of the game.
• Snap distribution among White, Okoronkwo and Anthony if the 49ers’ edge rotation remains shorthanded.
• Any roster moves San Francisco makes to add defensive line depth before the opener.

Source: original release