Sean McVay expects every Rams player to be on flight to Australia for Week 1, including Aaron Donald
Rams, 49ers Gear Up for NFL’s Historic First Game Down Under
The NFL will stage its first‑ever regular‑season contest in Australia when the Los Angeles Rams square off against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne later this month. The Rams are slated to arrive a day before kickoff, with head coach Sean McVay saying he expects the entire roster—including the newly returned three‑time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald—to make the overseas trek.
Travel plans
The Rams will depart Wednesday, landing in Australia the day before the nationally televised Week 1 showdown. The 49ers, by contrast, are expected to travel earlier in the week. McVay indicated the staggered arrivals are a matter of logistics rather than strategy, but the timing still gives the Rams a brief window to adjust to the time change before the opening whistle.
Donald’s return
Donald, who announced his comeback after a brief retirement, is back in a Rams uniform that now also features former Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The pairing has generated buzz among fans and analysts alike, with many calling the defensive line “a video‑game‑level unit.”
McVay, however, kept expectations guarded when asked about Donald’s availability for the season opener. “We’re taking it one day at a time with him,” the coach said Friday. “He’s in great shape, but we’ll see how the week unfolds.” Donald missed the bulk of training camp after rejoining the team, though the club reports he has been working intensively with the strength staff and is said to be in “tremendous football shape.”
The uncertainty around Donald’s status is not expected to deter the Rams from including him on the flight. McVay’s comment that “every player” will travel suggests the veteran tackle will at least be present in Melbourne, giving the Rams the option to deploy him immediately if his body responds well.
Nacua’s progress
Wide receiver Puka Nacua, a key piece of the Rams’ offensive puzzle, is also on the mend. Nacua has been sidelined by a psoas injury—a core muscle linking the lower spine to the thigh. McVay offered an encouraging update Friday. “He’s making good progress,” the coach said, noting that Nacua has been clocking high‑speed yards in recent rehab sessions with the team’s sports‑medicine group. The Rams remain hopeful Nacua will be cleared in time for the season opener, though his participation will hinge on how he feels in the final days of preparation.
Off the field, Nacua is under league review after a civil lawsuit was filed against him in March. A woman alleged that Nacua made an antisemitic remark and bit her shoulder and her friend’s thumb during a New Year’s Eve encounter. Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCarthern, has denied the allegation. The NFL’s personal‑conduct investigation is ongoing, but Nacua has not been placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he would not face an immediate suspension at the start of the season.
49ers contributors
San Francisco will also travel with several notable names. Tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa—each recovering from season‑ending injuries suffered last year—were confirmed as passengers on the 49ers’ flight to Melbourne. Their return adds firepower to a squad looking to rebound after a tumultuous 2025 campaign.
Historic backdrop
The matchup marks the NFL’s first regular‑season game in Australia, part of the league’s broader push to grow the sport internationally. The game is scheduled for Week 1 of the 2026 season, with a prime‑time slot set for a yet‑to‑be‑announced date in late September. League officials have expressed excitement about the event, noting that Melbourne’s strong sports culture and passionate fan base make it an ideal location for the league’s latest global venture.
Rams and 49ers fans alike are eagerly anticipating the trip, with both sides hopeful that their star players will be on the field when the NFL makes history Down Under.
