MELBOURNE, Sept 9 (Reuters) – The San Francisco 49ers have suffered a major blow in the leadup to their opening game against the Los Angeles Rams, losing starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins to a season-ending knee injury.
Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed on Wednesday that Collins had torn a patellar tendon during training in Melbourne on Tuesday. The injury comes after defensive end Sam Okuayinonu broke his foot over the weekend.
“We’ve lost two D-linemen 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,” Shanahan told reporters.
Originally a second-round pick in the 2025 draft, 24-year-old Collins played in 16 games for the 49ers in his rookie season in 2025.
The 49ers will look to either CJ West or Gracen Halton to start next to defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in Friday’s matchup against the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the first regular season NFL game in Australia.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)
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