The 49ers got a notable piece back on Friday, officially activating defensive tackle Alfred Collins from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Collins had been working his way through a shoulder injury, and reporters at the team’s practice facility saw him back on the field for Friday’s practice.
The timing fits with what John Lynch had already laid out. At the start of camp, the general manager said Collins would return for the team’s second set of training camp practices, and Friday marked the beginning of that phase. It was also the 49ers’ first practice in pads.
For San Francisco, Collins remains one of the most important players to watch this season. The former second-round pick from last year’s draft has the size and athletic traits to become a true three-down presence inside, and the 49ers need that kind of force on the interior.
There were promising stretches in his rookie year on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Collins flashed as a pass rusher and against the run, but he never put those moments together consistently enough to make a sustained impact. He finished with 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, 1.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The need up front is real for San Francisco, and the interior of the defensive line has to be better this season. The addition of Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys should help, but a leap from Collins would give the 49ers a boost now and down the road.
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