49ersAustralia trip could help franchise escape dark clouds

For the last two months, the 49ers have been trying to outrun a storm.This week, they will attempt to do it literally.They will leave behind the accumulating dark clouds that have followed them throughout the summer and fly across the Pacific Ocean to Melbourne, Australia, where the sunshine, bright skies and sheer distance from home might offer something the 49ers desperately need.A fresh start.Or, at the least, a temporary escape from an offseason in which seemingly every week delivered another injury, controversy or unwanted distraction.It began with Kyle Shanahan’s frightening July car accident, which left the 49ers coach with a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, more than 40 facial stitches and a severe concussion.Shanahan spent much of training camp working his way back to full strength while delegating some of his responsibilities to his assistants.Then came the season-ending loss of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose lingering knee injury required surgery to repair a torn PCL.Pearsall, a former first-round pick expected to take another significant step in his career, will miss all of 2026.Nick Bosa remains another major question mark.

Still working his way back from a torn ACL and dealing with tendinitis, Bosa had not participated in an open team practice in nearly a month.His availability against the Rams remains uncertain.George Kittle has spent the offseason rehabilitating a torn Achilles.

Although his activation from the Physically Unable to Perform list was an encouraging step, nobody knows how much he will be able to contribute in Melbourne, provided he plays at all.Christian McCaffrey missed an extended stretch of practice with what the 49ers described as “tightness.” Mike Evans has been slowed by an adductor injury.Other players have landed on injured reserve or the PUP list, forcing the 49ers to perform their familiar roster gymnastics before the season has begun.And hanging over everything is the extraordinary situation involv...