The San Francisco 49ers have been making roster moves even with a 16 hour trip across the globe.The 49ers are currently in Melbourne, Australia, preparing for their season-opener against early Super Bowl favorite, the Los Angeles Rams.The 49ers open their 2026 campaign in Melbourne against the RamsGettyOver the weekend, the Niners waived tight end Brayden Willis, a player they selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.In the corresponding move, they signed long snapper Jon Weeks and linebacker Khalid Kareem from the practice squad. They also placed defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu on injured reserve.Because Willis has fewer than four years of NFL experience, he was subjected to the waiver wire, meaning a rival claim would have forced him to immediately board a 16-hour flight back to the US.NFL Weekly Newsletter - SIGN UP!talkSPORT is your home for NFL in the UK as we launch our biggest year of coverage yet!2026 promises to be an epic year for NFL on talkSPORT – and we want you to join us for the ride.MORE INFO & SIGN-UP HERE!This season will be our biggest ever with live commentary of 90+ games, including behind-the-scenes access to international games and all three London fixtures, plus bumper coverage of Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium.Exclusive interviews, hard-hitting opinion, latest front-office drama and top breaking news – all delivered straight to your inbox each week.However, the tight end was saved from the trouble, as the 49eers announced he had signed back with the practice squad after going unclaimed, meaning he can stay in Australia.San Francisco’s decision to trim depth at tight end sends a strong signal regarding the health of superstar George Kittle.Kittle was carted off with a torn Achilles tendon in the Niners’ Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.After being activated from the PUP list, it’s now looking increasingly likely Kittle will be able to take the field at the iconic MCG cricket ground.With Willis back on the practice squad, the 49ers could still promote him to the active roster on game day if they feel like Kittle isn’t quite ready.All eyes turn will turn to how Kittle is listed when San Francisco release their first injury report of the year on Monday.Willis went unclaimed and the 49ers resigned him to the practice squadGettyKittle could return to the field just seven months after his Achilles injuryAFPKyle Shanahan left baffled by Australian time zones2026 features the most international games than ever before, but no trip is more grueling than the journey to Melbourne.San Francisco’s 200-member traveling party arrived in Melbourne on Friday, September 4, and will spend time acclimating.The Rams plan to arrive on Thursday morning, 24 hours before the game.Despite spending the entire weekend down under, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he still can’t get his head around the massive time difference“We’re a little confused with — when I look at my clock and it says a time and then I try to see my family’s time and then it says the time, but it says yesterday. I don’t even get how that’s possible,” Shanahan said. “So I feel like I’m in the future. And then also when we play on Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the US, we’re such creatures of habit. So I call today Tuesday. No, wait, sorry, I call today Wednesday. Shanahan delivered a confusing assessment of how he is adjusting to the time zone changeAFP“Which is the first day we put in a game plan. But I think it’s Monday. However, though, it’s Sunday in the present. So, like I’m gonna mess that up all week if you guys ask me. “But today is just our first day of the game plan, which is a Wednesday, and we’ll put in some on a Thursday. Friday’s the final part of the game plan. “Saturday, we walk through and we play on Sunday, which is a Friday in Australia and a Thursday in the US. So, don’t ever make me do that again.”