49ers finally receive good injury news as two superstars given green light to return hours before opener in Australia

The San Francisco 49ers have finally received some good news after a turbulent offseason with two key players cleared to play in their season opener.

The 49ers have spent the last week in Australia preparing to face the Los Angeles Rams tonight (Thursday, 8:35pm ET), a game that is actually taking place on Friday morning local time.

And head coach Kyle Shanahan will be able to call on star defensive end Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle after both were officially removed from the injury report and given no designation entering the game.

Bosa tore his right ACL in Week 3 last season, while Kittle tore his right Achilles tendon in January, but both have recovered in time for the new season after being listed as limited in all three practices this week. 

'We've got to be smart with that,' coach Kyle Shanahan said. 'They both look great. But we definitely have got to be smart with that.'

Bosa has said this week he feels '100%' to play, while offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said Kittle 'looks great' as the tight end was praised for his commitment to get back as soon as possible by his teammates. 

'All I know is that he went hard. He did everything he could to get back for Week 1. That's a credit to him,' quarterback Brock Purdy said. 'That's actually remarkable to be able to have that kind of injury and do what he did to get back.'

'It's incredible. I don't think we've made a big enough deal that he's playing in this game,' Kyle Juszczyk added. 

'That is absolutely insane that he tore his Achilles in the first week of the playoffs, and he's opening up Week 1, like it's awesome, and it's such a testament to his hard work and dedication.'

It has been a nightmare offseason for the 49ers, with Shanahan involved in a car crash in July then owner Jed York being arrested in an undercover prostitution sting last month. 

They then faced a grueling, 15-hour flight to Australia to play their Week 1 game, seeing things go from bad to worse when defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the week.

Collins tore his patellar tendon during practice on Tuesday, having been lined up as the 49ers' starting nose tackle in his second season in the league. His injury tests the depth of an already thin defensive line unit.

'That was a big loss,' said Shanahan. 'We've lost two D-linemen pretty much for the year after (final roster) cuts, before the first game, which is going to be a huge challenge. I'm hurting for Alfred. It's real unfortunate for him.' 

Defensive tackle Gracen Halton and defensive end Romello Height are limited in practice by ankle injuries, while undrafted rookie defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. missed practice Tuesday with a hamstring injury. C.J. West could step up as a starter.

'Any D-lineman is a possibility, unless you guys can name some guys we can fly here real quick,' Shanahan said.

Earlier this week, Bosa shared support for Collins after his injury nightmare having himself played only three games last year.  

'He just has to know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel,' Bosa said. 'I told him I've been through it a few times, so he just needs to take it one day at a time.'