“We’re technically in the future”: Kyle Shanahan’s brilliant Australia time zone response to San Francisco 49ers injury question goes viral

Kyle Shanahan may have just found the most entertaining way possible to avoid giving away injury information to reporters. Thanks to the new NFL rules allowing games in different time zones!As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, Shanahan was asked about his players’ health status. Instead of giving reporters the usual coach response about “taking it day by day,” he came up with a much more creative excuse: time travel.“Because we’re technically in the future from where we’re from, and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” Shanahan said before adding that he was not discussing them.The response quickly became a social-media subject matter, with the clip shared by NFL insider Ari Meirov and fans enjoying Shanahan’s unorthodox interpretation of NFL injury-report rules.San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan graciously uses Australia’s time zone to his advantageThe light-hearted joke actually has some meaningful logic behind it.The San Francisco 49ers are in Melbourne, where the local date/time is 17 to 19 hours ahead of California. San Francisco held its first full practice of the week on Monday in Australia while it was still Sunday back home in California.Because the Los Angeles Rams were still in California, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan took full advantage of it and explained that the team didn’t yet have to provide the updated injury report he would normally discuss at that point in California!So, technically speaking, Shanahan had discovered the NFL’s newest loophole and future problem: when in doubt, blame the international time zones! International date and time! Thanks to the Earth’s rotation and the longitudinal lines. Too geographical? Okay, sorry.Now, why did the coach do that? Speculation: so the Rams don’t know which players are injured…and how to set their one-on-one formations to catch the football on the gridiron first!The 49ers coach was clearly feeling the time travel effectShanahan’s explanation became even funnier when he expressed how insanely tedious it was to keep track of the days.He admitted that looking at his clock and then comparing it to his family’s time left him feeling confused because the two clocks showed different days. He joked that he felt like he was “in the future.”“We’re a little confused,” Shanahan said. “When I look at my clock, it says the time, and then I try to see my family’s time, and it says the time, but it says yesterday. I don’t get how that’s possible. So, I feel like I’m in the future.”A very practical approach to a geographical problem.The schedule only made matters worse. The 49ers are playing the Rams on Friday in Australia, although the game is considered Thursday Night Football for the American audience. Shanahan joked that he was already mixing up Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.At that point, even the calendar seemed to need a game plan of its own! But it’s food for thought: will jet-lagged brains perform better on a Friday that’s technically a Thursday?San Francisco 49ers injury updates will have to waitWhile Shanahan was jesting about the time difference, the injury situation itself remains crucial ahead of the 2026 season opener.The coach did reveal that defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu suffered a broken foot during the team’s final practice before leaving for Australia and will require surgery. Shanahan said he hopes Sam Okuayinonu can return later in the year.Anyhow, questions surrounding players such as defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle remained a gigantic worry as the 49ers began practicing in Melbourne.Kittle practiced on Monday. Bosa was seen in uniform but without pads; the 49ers are playing it safe with him. Tuesday and Wednesday would give a clear indication of Bosa. Running back Christian McCaffrey probably had a rest day.The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reported via X:“A number of previously injured 49ers were back today:Renardo GreenRomello HeightJacob CowingVederian LoweGracen HaltonLuke GiffordNo Nick Bosa. Christian McCaffrey was on hand but did not practice. He might be on a practice pitch count all season.”Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.