The 49ers’ defensive front took a hit before the season even got rolling. Alfred Collins is done for the year after Kyle Shanahan said the defensive tackle suffered a torn patellar tendon on Monday.
Collins had just surfaced on the injury report this week, and the diagnosis turns what looked like a short-term concern into a season-ending loss. It’s another brutal early setback for a San Francisco team already dealing with a growing injury list.
Ricky Pearsall’s season ended in August after the team decided he needed surgery for his PCL, and Mykel Williams is on the PUP list. Collins now joins that group as another rookie-contract player whose year has been wiped out before it really began.
The timing makes the blow even worse for Collins, who had shown flashes in 2025 and was trying to build more consistency in his second pro season. If recovery goes smoothly, he could be back for training camp in 2026, but patellar tendon injuries are a difficult road back for big men.
A recent 2025 study backed up how steep that road can be. It found that 85.7% of athletes return but fail to start as many games as they did before the injury, while 76.8% do not get back to their previous performance level.
For a player listed over 300 pounds, the most recent comparable case was Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. He missed the entire 2025 regular season after suffering the injury in August 2025, with a recovery window of 10 to 12 months before returning to practice for Chargers OTAs in June.
San Francisco’s depth chart now gets a lot thinner in a hurry. Osa Odighizuwa is there, but the spot next to him is unsettled.
CJ West, Gracen Halton and James Thompson Jr. are in the mix, though Thompson has not been practicing. Shanahan said Thompson Jr.’s status will depend on how Wednesday’s practice goes for the undrafted free agent.
With Collins out and other bodies limited, a practice squad move looks likely. Sebastian Valdez and Kevin Givens are among the options.
The 49ers are in Melbourne, Australia, getting ready for the Los Angeles Rams, and for Collins the timing is as rough as it gets. He had one of those moments last year against the Rams, helping keep Los Angeles out of the end zone at the 49ers’ own goal line in a road win plenty of people didn’t expect. A repeat of that scene won’t be happening this season.
In Other News...
Grant Cohn Is Somehow Becoming Part Of The 49ers Opener Story
The 49ers trip to Australia for their international opener against the Rams has produced the usual flood of game-week content, but one familiar Bay Area voice has become part of the conversation for a different reason. Grant Cohn, the veteran reporter known for his sharp criticism of San Francisco, has drawn attention overseas not for a practice note or matchup breakdown, but for the way he has documented the experience around the game.
His social media posts about local food and cultural stops have caught on with audiences well beyond the standard football crowd, turning a routine road assignment into something of a sideshow. Cohn has long been a polarizing figure around the 49ers because of his public clashes with players and the confrontational style he often brings to his coverage, and now even that reputation is being folded into a story that started with the opener itself. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuels New Role Puts 49ers Rookie In Week 1 Spotlight
DeZhaun Stribling has quietly climbed into a meaningful spot on the 49ers preseason depth chart, and the timing could not be better for a team sorting through injuries and shifting roles at receiver before Week 1 against the Rams. The rookie has moved up enough to be considered for a significant offensive role, and the latest chart points to him lining up as a starting wideout alongside Mike Evans.
Deebo Samuels designation as the primary kick returner adds another layer to the picture, hinting at a reduced load on offense and opening the door for Stribling to see real early-season snaps. For a San Francisco passing game already adjusting on the fly, the rookies next chance may come right away, and it will be worth watching how quickly the staff leans into that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
49ers First Injury Report Raises An Early Lineup Concern
The first injury report of the season gave the 49ers an immediate dose of reality, with several familiar names showing up before the week has even really settled in. Nick Bosa and George Kittle were both listed, and the report also brought a new concern on the defensive side when rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins appeared for the first time with a knee injury. It is the kind of early-week update that can quickly shape how a staff approaches practice, especially when core pieces are already under the microscope.
For now, the encouraging part is who was not there. Christian McCaffrey was absent from the report, and Mike Evans also did not appear, which helps keep at least some of the focus on the players who are actually dealing with issues. Still, Collins new injury designation stands out as the one to monitor, because even in September, the 49ers know how quickly a depth concern can become a bigger storyline if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]