San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins will miss the entire 2026 NFL season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his knee during practice in Melbourne, Australia. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the injury, dealing a heavy blow to the team’s defensive front ahead of their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
Alfred Collins’ Torn Patellar Tendon
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Alfred Collins will miss the entire 2026 NFL campaign after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his knee during practice. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the season-ending diagnosis on Wednesday while the team prepared abroad.
The 2026 NFL Season Opener in Melbourne
The injury occurred this week in Melbourne, where the 49ers are preparing to open the 2026 NFL season against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. This matchup marks the first regular-season NFL game to be played in Australia. The 49ers traveled to the country last week for an extended stay, while the Rams arrived Tuesday night for a stay of roughly three days.
Collins, who was selected with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Texas, is the latest player on a rookie contract to suffer a season-ending injury. The 49ers have already seen Ricky Pearsall’s season end in August due to surgery for his PCL, and Mykel Williams is currently on the PUP list.
During his rookie campaign, Collins rotated through the defensive line, recording 17 total tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries. Robert Saleh, the current head coach in Tennessee and former defensive coordinator for the 49ers, spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area in June regarding Collins’ development.
Saleh氏は、Alfred Collins選手が2巡目指名であったことは承知しているとしつつも、トレーニングキャンプからの上達ぶりには非常に驚かされたと語りました。また、シーズンが進むにつれて彼は特別な存在になるだろうとし、向上心や勤勉な姿勢から今後も成長し続け、一度スイッチが入れば止めるのは至難の業になると述べました。Robert Saleh, テネシー・ヘッドコーチ, via NBC Sports Bay Area
Rashawn Slater and Patellar Tendon Recovery
The recovery for a torn patellar tendon is significant for players over 300 pounds. Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Rashawn Slater sustained the same injury in August 2025 and missed the entire 2025 regular season with a recovery timeline of 10 to 12 months. However, a 2025 study indicates that 85.7% of athletes return from such injuries but fail to start as many games as they did previously, and 76.8% fail to return to their previous performance level.
The 49ers’ Defensive Depth Chart
The loss creates ambiguity in the 49ers’ depth chart. While Osa Odighizuwa remains, the team lists CJ West, Gracen Halton, and James Thompson Jr. on the depth chart. Kyle Shanahan stated that the availability of Thompson Jr., an undrafted free agent, will be determined by how Wednesday’s practice goes. To fill the gap, the 49ers may utilize a practice squad call-up, with defensive tackles Kevin Givens and Sebastian Valdez available as options.
Collins had previously played a role in matchups against the Rams; last year, he helped prevent the Rams from scoring on the 49ers’ own goal line during a victory.