Twenty-two years ago Valdas Dambrauskas sat in an executive box overlooking the Old Trafford pitch having a job interview for a coaching gig with Manchester United Soccer Schools.

John Shiels, chief executive of the club’s foundation, gave him the job and he spent five years in the role. Tonight he returns as coach of Sabah. It really is a heartwarming and full-circle moment for the 49-year-old. I spoke to John this week about his memories of Dambrauskas.

“He’s a really nice guy. He was so hungry to learn. He was a great worker, nothing was too much for him and he had a great attitude. My boys, who attended lots of soccer schools, remembered Valdas.

“He fitted right into the culture of the soccer schools where everything was geared around kids having great fun whilst playing the game.”

The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in a first for the league: a regular-season game at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, with kickoff set for 8:35 p.m. ET.

The same team ended both of their 2025 seasons. Seattle routed the 49ers 41-6 in the divisional round, then beat the Rams 31-27 in the NFC Championship Game, one win short of Super Bowl LX. Los Angeles enters 2026 as the outright favorite to win Super Bowl LXI, at +500.

Below, we’ll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch 49ers vs. Rams

• When: Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 8:35 p.m. ET
• Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
• TV/Streaming: Netflix

Players to Watch

For Los Angeles, the clearest skill position name to watch is Puka Nacua because his availability changed the shape of this matchup. He was not listed on the Rams injury report released Tuesday after dealing with a core issue, and that points to him being expected to handle his usual role against San Francisco.

That matters in a game where both teams enter 0-0 and there is no 2026 production yet to lean on. With the Rams still waiting for regular season statistical leaders to emerge, Nacua stands out as a proven focal point whose health is one of the most relevant developments going into this opener. If he is moving freely, Los Angeles gets a major piece of its passing game back at full strength.

On the San Francisco side, Christian McCaffrey is central because the 49ers expect him to step right back into his regular role. He was not listed on Tuesday’s injury report after his status had been watched through camp, and the latest update points to him being back at 100 percent for this opener.

In a Week 1 game with no 2026 team production on the board yet, that kind of clarity matters. San Francisco does not have official statistical leaders established for the regular season, so McCaffrey’s role becomes one of the strongest grounded indicators of where the offense can flow early. His involvement would give the 49ers their most dependable all purpose threat and a steady way to test the Rams from the opening series.

If this turns into a game where San Francisco needs answers over the middle and on key downs, George Kittle becomes one of the most important swing players to monitor. He was listed as a limited participant Tuesday because of an Achilles issue, but he has been practicing regularly since coming off the active/PUP list, and the door remains open for him to suit up.

His watch value comes from uncertainty tied directly to this matchup. The 49ers know what his presence can do for structure, toughness, and quarterback comfort, but his status is still something to track right up to kickoff. A healthy Kittle would give San Francisco another major piece in a game that could hinge on which offense settles in first.

One of the more interesting under the radar Rams names is Terrance Ferguson because his health is settled even if his exact usage is not. He was not listed on Tuesday’s injury report after dealing with soreness, which removes the immediate concern heading into the opener.

What makes him worth watching here is the role question. The Rams have all five tight ends healthy for Week 1, so his place in the rotation is still unclear, but he has generated buzz and enters this game available. In a season opener where established 2026 production does not exist yet, players who can carve out a role quickly matter. If Ferguson earns meaningful snaps early, he could become a useful change up piece in the Rams offense.

49ers vs. Rams Odds

Learn more about the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, plus check the full schedule on FOX Sports!

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Aaron Rodgers is unhappy with ESPN’s lack of coverage regarding the close relationship between reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.

This week during his appearance on the “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward” podcast, he lashed out at ESPN for not making that story a headline. He mentioned how the network decided to make Jed York’s arrest for solicitation a top headline across all of their channels instead.

“ESPN is really scared. Gutless organization because they haven’t said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues but won’t talk one second about the Diane Russini situation. What just happened? The owner of the Niners listed a prostitute for $140 in Ohio. That literally was the number one topic when you clicked on ESPN.com. They rotate the eight stories or whatever they have, but they usually have one featured story. That was the featured story. So you bring in millions of eyes to that situation. Why do you want to throw Jed York under the bus? I don’t know (Time Stamp: 25:17).”

He then continued by questioning if Dianna Russini‘s personal relationship with Mike Vrabel had any effect on her coverage of the New England Patriots.

“But does that have the same effect as a reporter who has intimate relations with a coach who has a vote for MVP, a vote for Coach of the Year? I don’t know if she’s on the Hall of Fame or not, but there’s voting stuff. There was the thing about Morgan Moses going from the Jets to the New England that was posted a day early. How many other inside things were shared?”

“There are a lot of insiders out there. Do they all have strong integrity? I don’t know. But the fact that ESPN spent zero time on that story, while Jed York gets popped in San Fran and it’s literally on the top of their roll right now—that’s hypocrisy. I think there’s a lot more to it. The NFL is going to protect the Shield, and I respect that, but they’re going to do it by all means necessary. They’re clearly taking the words out of my mouth. They’ve got to be very, very careful.”

This is not the first time that Aaron Rodgers has been critical of ESPN’s lack of coverage of the Russini/Vrabel relationship. In August, Pat McAfee broadcasted his show live from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp and Rodgers took the opportunity to criticize the network for allegedly protecting Russini and Vrabel.

Also Read: “Nobody can talk about it”: Aaron Rodgers raises “major scandal” alert calling out Dianna Russini over “tampering” concerns

Also Read: ESPN’s Pat McAfee broadcast goes blank as Aaron Rodgers takes another shot at vaccinations

Aaron Rodgers revealed that he initially met his wife Brittani in 2017

Aaron Rodgers has kept the details of his relationship with wife, Brittani, but revealed more details on the “Not Just Football” podcast this week. He revealed that they met back in 2017 after she finished her college career at the University of Texas. She then moved to Europe, and both ended up getting engaged to other people.

“In 2017 I met my wife, and at the time, she was leaving the States and going back to Europe. And my biggest regret is not begging her to stay or proposing right there, because that sent me right there into a tailspin of what can I be accused of as a partner in a relationship,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers also revealed that the couple eloped but said that he didn’t want to give any additional details.