Chairshot NFL News Report (9/11/2026): 49ers Crush LA, Tua Gets Hurt & Dallas Keeps Spending

San Francisco crushes the Rams in Australia, Tua Tagovailoa lands on Atlanta’s injury report and Dallas locks up another contributor.

So much for the Rams arriving in Australia on their own schedule.

San Francisco dominated the preseason Super Bowl favorites 27-7 in Melbourne, Brock Purdy threw three touchdowns and a Rams defense featuring Myles Garrett produced almost nothing.

Back in the United States, Tua Tagovailoa created another Week 1 quarterback concern in Atlanta while Dallas continued locking up its own young contributors before playing the Giants.

It’s the Chairshot NFL News Report for September 11, 2026!

49ers Embarrass the Rams in Australia

San Francisco defeated Los Angeles 27-7 Thursday in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, while the 49ers rushed for 174 yards and scored the final 24 points of the game after falling behind 7-3. Matthew Stafford finished with 155 passing yards before being replaced late, while Myles Garrett recorded no tackles or quarterback hits in his Rams debut.

San Francisco 49ers 27, Los Angeles Rams 7

The travel conversation is not going away after this. San Francisco arrived roughly a week early and spent that time adjusting to Australia. Los Angeles intentionally maintained a U.S.-based body clock and arrived barely more than a day before kickoff.

Sean McVay refused to use the travel strategy as an excuse afterward, but a 27-7 result guarantees everybody else will.

More importantly, the 49ers looked like the better football team. Nick Bosa and Fred Warner returned, Purdy controlled the game and San Francisco neutralized a Los Angeles defense that looked terrifying on paper. The Rams spent the offseason becoming Super Bowl favorites, but they spent Thursday looking nothing like one.

Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling Leaves on a Cart

49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling injured his ankle during his NFL debut and was eventually taken from the field on a cart. Stribling, San Francisco’s first selection in the 2026 draft at No. 33 overall, initially returned after suffering the injury before aggravating it later in the first half.

That is the one significant cloud hanging over an otherwise excellent opener. San Francisco entered the season counting on Stribling to become part of a receiving corps that underwent several changes. Losing him for meaningful time would immediately eat into depth the 49ers spent August trying to establish.

The fact that he attempted to return before leaving again suggests the first injury may not have initially appeared serious. The cart changes the tone considerably.

Tua Tagovailoa Lands on Atlanta’s Injury Report

Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was limited Thursday after suffering an oblique injury during practice. Tagovailoa appeared to grab his side after falling while making a throw, and backup Cooper Rush subsequently received additional first-team repetitions. Michael Penix Jr. practiced fully but is expected to remain inactive for Atlanta’s opener against Pittsburgh.

That is exactly the type of development Atlanta did not want three days before its first game.

Tagovailoa was brought in to stabilize the position while Penix continues recovering from ACL surgery. If Tua cannot play, Atlanta suddenly has to choose between Rush and accelerating a timeline it deliberately spent the offseason trying not to accelerate.

An oblique injury is also particularly inconvenient for a quarterback because almost every throw requires the exact torso rotation that can aggravate it. Friday’s practice now matters considerably more than it did Thursday morning.

Dallas Extends Brevyn Spann-Ford

The Cowboys agreed to a three-year extension with tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford that will keep him in Dallas through 2029. The deal is reportedly worth $18 million with more than $12 million guaranteed. Spann-Ford has developed into the primary blocking complement to Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson while contributing extensively on special teams.

This is not the kind of contract that dominates an offseason. Those are often some of the smartest ones.

Dallas is paying to keep a specific role filled rather than waiting for Spann-Ford to reach restricted free agency and discovering another team values the same thing.

Ferguson handles much of the receiving attention. Spann-Ford does the work that allows Dallas to use heavier formations without making its intentions obvious. Good rosters need both.

Breece Hall Says He Is Ready for Week 1

Jets running back Breece Hall said Thursday that he will play Sunday against Tennessee after recovering from the groin injury he suffered August 17. Hall returned to full practice this week, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich said he expects to use the running back normally unless medical personnel indicate otherwise.

That gives New York one fewer uncertainty heading into a fascinating opener. Hall finally surpassed 1,000 rushing yards last season and signed a three-year extension in May, establishing him as one of the offensive pieces the new coaching staff actually chose to keep.

Sunday also puts the Jets against former head coach Robert Saleh, now leading Tennessee. There will be enough emotional noise around that game already. Having the starting running back available keeps New York from adding another problem to the list.

Malik Nabers and Andrew Thomas Practice Fully

Giants receiver Malik Nabers and left tackle Andrew Thomas were full participants in practice this week as New York prepares to open Sunday night against Dallas. Nabers is completing his recovery from last season’s torn ACL and meniscus, while Thomas has also worked back from knee issues. Head coach John Harbaugh has stopped short of guaranteeing Nabers will play.

Nabers taking full-contact practice repetitions is more important than any carefully worded press-conference answer. The Giants do not need to reveal his Sunday workload three days early. They need to know he can absorb contact, change direction and recover normally the following day.

Andrew Thomas being healthy may matter just as much. New York can manage Nabers on a limited snap count if necessary. Trying to protect Jaxson Dart without its starting left tackle would be much harder to disguise.

Week 1 Injury Reports Start Getting Serious

Thursday’s league-wide injury reports included Alvin Kamara practicing on a limited basis for New Orleans, Rome Odunze remaining limited for Chicago and several Washington defenders carrying limited designations before the Commanders face Philadelphia. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is already expected to miss the opener following his knee procedure.

Teams could spend August describing players as day-to-day without having to make a meaningful decision. By Friday afternoon, Sunday teams have to attach actual game statuses to those injuries.

The first two nights of the NFL season have already demonstrated why the distinction matters. Seattle lost Sam Darnold during its opener and survived. San Francisco lost Stribling Thursday after already entering the game thin along the defensive line.

The depth charts built in August are already being tested. The biggest takeaway from Thursday, though, belongs to San Francisco.

The 49ers did not merely win the NFL’s first game in Australia. They dismantled a Rams team widely expected to contend for the Super Bowl and made Los Angeles’ experimental travel plan look awful in the process.

One game cannot settle the NFC West, but it can absolutely change the conversation entering Week 2.

This report includes information from: APNews.com, Reuters.com, DallasCowboys.com, Giants.com, and NFL.com.