49ers, Rams hoping big-name players will be healthy enough to play in Australia matchup

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will open their seasons next Thursday in an historic matchup from Melbourne, Australia.

While the 49ers have already begun their trek down under, the Rams will not be arriving until a day before the game , which kicks off on Friday, Sept. 11, at 11:35 a.m local time.

As both teams prepare for Week 1, there are several lingering injury storylines to track. A number of key players are working their way toward being ready to play, but a few have yet to get a green light.

After tearing his Achilles in January, the tight end is trending in a positive direction as far as playing next week. Kittle practiced this week and, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , there is an "optimistic sense" of the 32-year-old being available against the Rams. Like Nick Bosa, he was on the plane to Australia with the team on Wednesday.

The defensive end practiced fully for the first time in training camp on Wednesday, nearly a year after tearing his right ACL. He told reporters that he "felt great" and said the progress he is making is "very encouraging." As far as playing Week 1, he did not say anything definitive, but sounded like he was expecting to be out there next Friday (Thursday in the U.S.). Teams doctors will have the final say, of course.

"It was a long road," Bosa told reporters via ESPN.com . "There's some stuff I dealt with, with that patella tendon, and then I kind of ramped it a little too fast with the football stuff a month ago or whatever it was. And that kind of told me to back off. I've just been trying to get it as strong and myself as confident as I can to where I could rip the Band-Aid off and go to team stuff today."

The veteran receiver has been out for most of training camp with an adductor injury. He returned to practice this week. As with Kittle, there is optimism that the offseason signing will be ready to go next Thursday.

"We've got some solid work throughout the offseason," said 49ers general manager John Lynch on Tuesday. "He ran into a little hiccup with his adductor, but he's working really well to the side, and hope to get him back here early next week. And if all goes well, he'll be suiting up and making plays for us, and that's all the guy's done throughout his career."

The goal is Week 1 for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and current No. 1 player in the league . He has dealt with lower body soreness, and most recently knee swelling, that's kept him away from the field. Rams head coach Sean McVay said this week that Garrett is "making good progress" and the "goal all along has been [playing in] Australia."

The Rams receiver has been bothered by psoas soreness since mid-August, but made his return to practice on Sunday. The team has no concern moving forward and he is expected to be involved next week against the 49ers.