The San Francisco 49ers are going to have a hectic Week 1.
We already know they are traveling to Australia to face the Los Angeles Rams. Something to note is the deadline for the final 53-man roster. Typically, the date is on Tuesday following the final preseason game. In 2026, the date has been moved up to Sunday. For 2026, it’s Aug. 30. Waiver claims are due Monday, August 31, at 1 p.m. ET.
That makes sense given the first game of the 2026 season is not on a Thursday, but a Wednesday—the Seattle
Seahawks and New England Patriots will kick off the season. This helps the 49ers as well, and not just because they play the next day.
Kyle Shanahan recently said that, to be ready for the international games, the 49ers would travel to Australia a week out. With that in mind, and the game on September 10, it’s a fair assumption that the 49ers are going to be doing cutdowns earlier than the rest of the league to get everything in order. With the earlier deadline, the league also has to make some decisions sooner. While any acquisitions might not make the flight to Australia, if there’s someone the 49ers want to add, they don’t have to sit and wait while other teams have until Tuesday to make some decisions.
The 49ers’ final preseason game is on Thursday, August 27. It’s a safe bet that the moment that clock hits 00:00, the front office is going to be going fast to get the 53-man roster set up due to the 19-hour flight ahead of them the following week.
Anyone they cut can also not have to wait as long to figure out what’s next for their football futures. That week leading up to the Rams should be wild.
