San Francisco 49ers starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins tore his patellar tendon during a Tuesday practice in Melbourne, Australia, ruling him out for the entire 2026 NFL season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the injury on Wednesday, dealing a severe blow to the team’s defensive front days before their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
The San Francisco 49ers face a daunting roster scramble in the hours leading up to their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams after losing starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins to a season-ending knee injury. Collins sustained a torn patellar tendon during Tuesday practice sessions in Melbourne, Australia, leaving the team with just under 48 hours to secure a replacement.
According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the incident occurred during practice just before the squad transitioned into 11-on-11 drills. The setback compounds an already challenging preseason training period for San Francisco’s defensive line.
“Alfred tore his patellar tendon yesterday. That was a big loss. We’ve lost two D-lineman pretty much for the year after cuts and before the first game which has been a huge challenge. I’m hurting for Alfred… It was real unfortunate for him.”
A Mounting Toll on the 49ers Defensive Line in Melbourne
Collins joins a growing list of major casualties on rookie and young-player contracts for San Francisco. The injury wave also includes wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, whose season ended in August following PCL surgery, and edge rusher Mykel Williams, who remains on the physically unable to perform list.
The timing is particularly punishing.
“I texted him last night and let know there’s nothing anybody can say to you at that moment or really the entire process. Guys can tell you to keep your head up but they won’t be there for the surgery or the nine months you’re grinding by yourself to get back. He has to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I’ve told him I’ve been there a few times.”
Medical realities face the young lineman immediately. Patellar tendon tears in players weighing over 300 pounds demand extensive rehabilitation, with typical recovery windows stretching between 6 to 12 months. Past precedents in the league offer sobering reminders; former 49ers center Weston Richburg tore his patellar tendon in 2019 and never returned to the field, though analysts note Collins is considerably younger at age 24.
Evaluating Replacement Options on the Practice Squad and Active Roster
Because the team is stationed overseas in Australia, flying in an external free agent on short notice remains virtually impossible. Shanahan acknowledged the logistical hurdles bluntly when asked about outside help.
“Any D-lineman is a possibility, unless you can name some guys we can fly here real quick.”
Instead, San Francisco will look internally to fill the void alongside defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. The leading internal candidate for promotion from the practice squad is Kevin Givens, who has appeared in 70 games for the franchise since entering the league as an undrafted rookie in 2019. Alternatively, second-year undrafted interior presence Sebastian Valdez serves as a secondary option on the practice squad.
On the active 53-man roster, second-year defensive tackle CJ West and undrafted rookie James Thompson Jr. represent additional depth, though Thompson’s availability depends on his recovery from a recent hamstring strain. Rookie fourth-round draft pick Gracen Halton, who missed significant time last month with an ankle issue, is also expected to factor into the defensive line rotation.
A Stunted Trajectory for a Rising Interior Prospect
The injury halts momentum for a player whom the organization expected to anchor the interior defense. Selected 43rd overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Texas, Collins played 16 games as a rookie, compiling 17 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles.
His disruptive potential was underscored last season during a road victory over the Rams, when he helped stop the Rams from scoring near the goal line.
That growth earned high praise from coaching staff. Robert Saleh, then the team’s defensive coordinator and now head coach of the Tennessee Titans, singled out Collins during offseason evaluations.
With Collins officially bound for injured reserve to undergo reconstructive surgery, San Francisco must finalize its game-day adjustments before taking the field at AAMI Park, where they will also catch a temporary break with the Rams delaying the return of Aaron Donald.
Worth a look
