The San Francisco 49ers made a late defensive move before traveling to Australia for the start of the 2026 season. The team signed defensive lineman Khalid Kareem to a one-year deal and placed Sam Okuayinonu on injured reserve.
San Francisco confirmed the transaction on Sept. 4, ahead of its matchup against the Los Angeles Rams scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, in Melbourne. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
Who is Khalid Kareem?
Kareem joins San Francisco with previous NFL experience and arrives at a time when the 49ers need additional depth along their defensive line.
The player had been on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad before San Francisco completed the move. The transaction gives the 49ers another experienced option for their defensive rotation before the regular season begins.
His arrival also comes in response to the situation involving Sam Okuayinonu, who was placed on injured reserve by the team. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
Why did the 49ers make the move?
San Francisco's defensive line has required several adjustments during the preseason. Adding Kareem gives the coaching staff another option in the rotation and provides a player with professional experience.
The timing is significant because Kareem has very little time to learn the system and get familiar with his new teammates before the opener.
San Francisco is not making the move to completely overhaul its defense. Instead, the team is increasing its depth at a position where injuries can quickly affect the rotation.
Sam Okuayinonu moves to injured reserve
The corresponding transaction was placing Okuayinonu on injured reserve. The move was officially recorded on Sept. 4.
That allowed San Francisco to create roster space for Kareem while managing Okuayinonu's injury.
The situation could become important during the opening weeks of the season as the 49ers evaluate how their defensive line responds to the demands of the regular season.
A reinforcement before facing the Rams
The timing of the move is especially relevant because San Francisco will face a Los Angeles offense entering the season with high expectations.
The Rams have players capable of creating pressure against opposing defenses and an offense designed to take advantage of depth problems.
For the 49ers, having a deeper defensive rotation could prove important in a game that will also be played after a long international trip.
San Francisco opens the season in Australia
The 49ers will face the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The game will be the first of the 2026 regular season and the first NFL regular-season game played in Australia. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
The organization is already working on adapting to the travel and time-zone change. The matchup will also provide an immediate test for a defense that has made several recent adjustments to its rotation.
What's next for the 49ers?
Kareem will need to integrate quickly and show that he can contribute to the rotation. The coaching staff will determine how much he can be used in Melbourne.
At the same time, San Francisco will continue monitoring Okuayinonu and the rest of the defensive line to prevent accumulated injuries from weakening the unit's depth.
The 49ers strengthened their defensive line with Khalid Kareem just before opening the season in Australia. The move adds depth while Sam Okuayinonu moves to injured reserve. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}