San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins will miss the entire season after tearing his patellar tendon during practice in Melbourne, Australia, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced. Collins, a second-year player and a key run stuffer for the team, sustained the injury on Wednesday, which was Tuesday evening Pacific time.
"Hurting for Alfred," Shanahan said. "It happened yesterday during a period right before we started going against each other. It was real unfortunate for him. ... So, that was a big loss. We’ve lost two D-Linemen pretty much for the year after cuts before the first game, which has been a huge challenge."
Collins' season-ending injury adds to a string of significant health issues for the 49ers' defensive line. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu broke his foot in the team's final practice before departing for Australia, and defensive end Mykel Williams is sidelined until at least Week 5 while on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Nick Bosa, who missed last season after tearing his ACL in September, is slated to start, and Keion White, a potential starter on the opposite side, suffered a gunshot wound to the foot in February.
The team has already signed Khalid Kareem from the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad to bolster the defensive line. With Collins out, the responsibility will fall on second-year player C.J. West, fourth-round pick Gracen Halton, and undrafted rookie James Thompson Jr. to step up alongside Osa Odighizuwa. Halton recently returned from an ankle injury, and Thompson missed Tuesday's practice with a hamstring issue.
The 49ers may also elevate defensive tackles Kevin Givens or Sebastian Valdez from their practice squad. The team has experienced widespread injuries throughout training camp, with over 20 players missing time at various points. Despite recent positive health trends, including the expected return of Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle for the upcoming game against the Rams, the team continues to face significant personnel challenges.
Earlier in training camp, third-year receiver Ricky Pearsall also suffered a season-ending injury, requiring surgery for a torn PCL in his right knee. The combined injuries to Pearsall, Williams, and Collins mean that the 49ers' past two first-round draft picks and their second selection in the 2025 draft will all miss substantial playing time. Collins, selected 43rd overall out of Texas, played in 16 games as a rookie but had undergone major shoulder surgery in the offseason, which impacted his preparation for training camp.