NFL Notes: China, 49ers, Cardinals & Rams

China

• Daniel Kaplan reports that the NFL is considering opening the 2018 NFL season in China on a Tuesday or Wednesday in order to give teams more time to recover after playing the game overseas.
• There has been some speculation that the 49ers and Rams could appear in this game. (NFLTR)

49ers

49ers HC Chip Kelly denied that QB Blaine Gabbert has a “leg up” on Colin Kaepernick for the starting job.

“I don’t look at it as a leg up,” Kelly said, via the San Jose Mercury News. “We’re just going to judge them on the opportunities to get in there and go. So if Colin gets in there and does a great job when he’s in, I’m not going to say, ‘Well, he didn’t get as many snaps as Blaine.’ They’re going to be judged on who moves our offensive football team the best, who protects the football the best, gives us an opportunity to win games.”

As for Kaepernick, Kelly said that his shoulder injury is a “day-to-day thing.”

“He says he feels better as we go, but we’re not going to push him so we can have a proper evaluation of him,” Kelly added. “We’re just trying to get him healthy and see if we can get him ready for this week against Denver.”

Cardinals

• Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic writes that Cardinals DB Tyrann Mathieu (ACL) is expected to be removed from the active/PUP list this week.
• Somers adds that DB Justin Bethel and DT Frostee Rucker could also be activated this week.

Rams

Rams HC Jeff Fisher downplayed the recent reports that extensions for him and GM Les Snead could be coming before the start of the season.

“I don’t know where those reports came from and I’ve never gone into the details regarding my own personal situation,” Fisher said, via Pro Football Talk. “I haven’t talked to Adam Schefter or anybody, so we’ll see what happens.”