49ers Lose Alfred Collins for 2026 After Patellar Tendon Tear

What happened

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The San Francisco 49ers will be without defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the entire 2026 season after he tore a patellar tendon during practice in Melbourne. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced the diagnosis ahead of San Francisco's season opener against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. NFL.com reported that the injury occurred in practice and confirmed that Collins will miss the season.

The timing makes the setback especially severe. Collins, 24, had been projected to start alongside Osa Odighizuwa on the interior of the defensive line. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie in 2025, making one start, after San Francisco selected him in the second round of that year's draft. The former Texas defender is listed by the 49ers at 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds.

Why it matters

San Francisco now has to alter a key part of its defensive rotation immediately before Week 1. UPI reports that C.J. West is expected to step into the opening, while rookies Gracen Halton and James Thompson Jr. could also receive more work. Thompson, however, missed Tuesday's practice with a hamstring strain, further narrowing the team's healthy options inside.

The loss also interrupts Collins' development at the start of his second professional season. He had already missed offseason work and part of training camp while recovering from shoulder surgery. After working back into position for the opener, he now faces a long rehabilitation rather than the expanded role San Francisco had planned for him.

Shanahan described the injury as a major loss and said he was hurting for Collins. The coach also noted the broader strain on the defensive line after the club lost defensive end Sam Okuayinonu to a foot injury following final roster cuts. That puts additional pressure on the available linemen and on defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to manage snaps against a familiar divisional opponent.

Tournament impact

The immediate consequence arrives in Melbourne, where the 49ers and Rams will play the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia. The official 49ers schedule lists the matchup for Thursday, September 10 in the United States, with the local kickoff falling Friday morning in Melbourne. San Francisco must prepare for the Rams without the interior starter it expected to field.

What to watch

West's workload and the composition of the defensive tackle rotation will be the clearest indicators of San Francisco's response. The availability of Halton and Thompson will also matter, particularly if the 49ers need to keep the group fresh during an unusually demanding international opener. Beyond Week 1, the front office may have to consider adding depth, but the confirmed news for now is that Collins' 2026 season is over before it began.

Sources: NFL.com news roundup, https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-tuesday-sept-8 ; UPI, https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NFL/2026/09/09/australia-Alfred-Collins-San-Francisco-49ers-out-season/1781788956651/ ; San Francisco 49ers player profile and schedule, https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/alfred-collins/ and https://www.49ers.com/schedule/