The San Francisco 49ers left for Australia without one of their veteran defensive ends after a lingering foot problem kept him off the team flight.
Sam Okuayinonu stayed behind Wednesday as the rest of the roster headed to Melbourne for next week’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
The trip gives the club extra time to adjust to the long haul and the time change before kickoff.
Several other players dealing with injuries made the journey, including tight end George Kittle, defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Mike Evans.
Okuayinonu’s absence stood out because of how the team has treated his status.
David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reported the details in a post on X.
“DE Sam Okuayinonu will not fly on the 49ers’ team plane to Melbourne. He has a foot injury and is questionable for the game,” Lombardi wrote.
The defensive end carved out a larger role last season when the 49ers dealt with a string of injuries along the line. He started 12 games in 2025 and finished with 39 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble across 15 appearances.
Those numbers were not eye-popping, but coaches valued his ability to stay on the field for all three downs. He holds up against the run and can still rush the passer when asked.
With Bosa expected to take a bigger share of snaps this year, Okuayinonu was projected as a rotational piece rather than a full-time starter.
The foot issue first surfaced during training camp and has limited him at times since then. Team officials listed him as questionable, which technically leaves the door open for him to play.
Yet missing the official team flight makes it far less likely he will appear against the Rams unless he travels independently and is cleared at the last minute. The 49ers have been careful not to rush anyone back this early in the season. They already have depth questions at edge rusher if Bosa cannot go.
Keion White and Romello Height are also listed as questionable for the same game.
That combination of absences could leave the pass rush thinner than planned for the opener.
Kickoff is set for 8:35 p.m. ET on Sept. 10 in Melbourne. The 49ers hope the extra days overseas help the players who did make the trip get ready.
Okuayinonu’s situation remains one of the few lingering concerns after an otherwise encouraging stretch of injury news.
Coaches will continue to monitor the foot as the week unfolds. For now, the veteran stays in California while his teammates settle in on the other side of the world.
