Myles Garrett and Mike Evans just tore onto the field in new colors for Week 1, making their fresh starts with the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, respectively, all the way in Melbourne, Australia, for Thursday night’s opener. Talk about a global kickoff for some massive player moves!
New Threads, New Beginnings, Old Foes
Garrett, after nine seasons absolutely wrecking offenses for the Cleveland Browns, hit the turf for the first time as a Ram. You know he’s looking to prove he’s still an absolute force in the trenches. And Evans? He suited up in Niners red after an incredible twelve seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a career that felt like it would never end anywhere else. This wasn’t just any regular season kickoff, either. This showdown marked the NFL’s first-ever regular season game played in Australia, a wild place for these two stars to make their much-anticipated debuts.
Battling Back From Preseason Bumps
Both guys had to fight through some pain just to get there. Garrett completely sat out his first preseason with the Rams, battling swelling in his knee. You gotta wonder how that impacts his game and his explosiveness early on, especially changing systems. Evans faced similar issues, sitting out the Niners’ preseason. He was dealing with a trio of nagging problems: minor groin, quad, and adductor injuries. Coming back from that many little dings, especially for a receiver, shows some serious grit.
Evans wasn’t the only 49er making an injury comeback, either. Defensive end Nick Bosa, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner were all active for the season opener after recovering from injuries that ended their 2025 seasons. Seeing these dudes back out there on Day 1 is a huge win for the Niners, bringing back some serious firepower.
A Legend Sidelined For the Rams
On the Rams side, one huge name was nowhere to be found. Aaron Donald was ruled out for Week 1. The guy’s still working his way back to the NFL after not seeing any action since the 2023 season. That’s a massive hole in the Rams defense that Garrett’s going to have to try and fill, and you know the pressure is on.
So, Week 1 is in the books for these teams, kicking off a season that’s already seen some massive player shifts and international flair. It’s going to be wild watching how Garrett and Evans settle into their new homes and how these early injury comebacks play out. The NFL is just getting started, folks!
Oh, and for those of you bleeding blue and green back home, the Seattle Seahawks got their own Week 1 done, beating the New England Patriots 13-10. Good start for our squad!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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