Season-Ending Injury Blow
San Francisco 49ers Defensive Tackle Alfred Collins Misses Season With Injury
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Key Points
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Patellar tendon injuries can require six to 12 months of recovery and have ended the careers of professional athletes. The 49ers previously saw defensive lineman Drake Jackson struggle to fully recover from the same injury, while former center Weston Richburg never returned after suffering one in 2019.
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Collins appeared in all 16 games last season and recorded 17 tackles, one sack, four quarterback hits, an interception, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
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The injury occurred during defensive warmups, before the portion of practice in which players began competing against one another. Shanahan called it “real unfortunate for him.”
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San Francisco’s defensive-line attrition also includes undrafted rookie Mikail Kamara, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear early in training camp, and Mykel Williams, who opened the season on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from an ACL injury.
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Collins’ readiness had already been a concern before the knee injury: he missed all of organized team activities and part of training camp after shoulder surgery, and one report said he struggled to disengage from blockers and had conditioning issues during the preseason.
The San Francisco 49ers lost defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the entire 2026 season after he tore his patellar tendon during practice in Melbourne, Australia, coach Kyle Shanahan announced. SF Chronicle reported that the injury is a devastating blow to an already weakened defensive line struggling with multiple season-threatening injuries to other key players.
Collins, a 2025 second-round pick, was expected to start alongside Osa Odighizuwa after showing promise as a run defender last season. The Score noted that the injury compounds earlier concerns about Collins' readiness, including missed offseason workouts due to shoulder surgery and preseason conditioning issues.
Patellar Tendon Injuries Require Months of Recovery
Patellar tendon tears typically require six to 12 months to heal and have ended careers for professional athletes. SF Chronicle highlighted that the 49ers have firsthand experience with this injury: defensive lineman Drake Jackson struggled to fully recover from the same damage, and former center Weston Richburg never played again after suffering one in 2019. The long recovery timeline means Collins will miss at least the entire 2026 season.
Collins Lost During Defensive Line Warmups
The injury occurred during defensive warmups before players began competing against each other in practice. ABC7 News and ABC30 both reported that the accident happened in Australia during team preparations. Shanahan called the timing "real unfortunate" for the young defensive lineman who had worked hard to prove himself in his second season.
Defensive Line Already Decimated by Season-Ending Injuries
Collins' loss worsens an already thin defensive unit. Chat Sports reported that defensive end Sam Okuayinonu and defensive end Mykel Williams are both dealing with season-threatening injuries. Undrafted rookie Mikail Kamara suffered a season-ending ACL tear early in training camp, while Williams opened the season on the physically unable to perform list recovering from his own ACL injury.
The 49ers must now rely on replacements to fill the gap. C.J. West is expected to take Collins' starting spot, with Gracen Halton rotating in as backup. James Thompson Jr.'s availability is uncertain due to a hamstring strain, leaving the team to potentially promote Sebastian Valdez or Kevin Givens from the practice squad to strengthen the rotation.
Second-Year Lineman Had Solid First Season Despite New Setback
Collins appeared in all 16 games last season and recorded 17 tackles, one sack, four quarterback hits, an interception, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles. The Score reported that he made a key goal-line play against the Rams that showcased his potential as a defender. His productive rookie year made this injury an especially frustrating loss for San Francisco's defense.
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