Rams fans still remember the name, Alfred Collins. Late in last season’s 26-23 overtime thriller at SoFi Stadium, it was the 49ers rookie interior lineman who stripped Kyren Williams at the 1-yard line to pull off a dramatic goal-line save. Collins was poised to turn that hero status into a breakout Year 2 campaign as San Francisco’s starting nose tackle. Instead, a devastating knee injury has halted his momentum, dealing a brutal blow to a front seven already battling the injury bug.

“The 49ers will be without the player who was the hero of last year’s dramatic win at SoFi against the Rams,” Columnist Ann Killion said on X. “DL Alfred Collins, who forced Kyren Williams’ fumble at the 1-yard line, tore his patellar tendon in practice yesterday and is out for the season.”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the devastating news on Wednesday, delivering a grim reality for a team preparing for Kickoff across the globe in Australia. The non-contact injury occurred during Tuesday’s practice in Melbourne, just moments before team 11-on-11 drills were set to begin. Collins will require surgery in the coming days before being placed on season-ending injured reserve. To make matters worse, Collins’ injury comes directly on the heels of defensive end Sam Okuayinonu landing on IR with a broken foot.

This latest blow halts a summer that was already off to a delayed start for the second-year lineman. The 2025 second-round pick was already fighting an uphill battle after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, an injury sustained during San Francisco’s postseason loss to Seattle. That recovery kept him on the active/PUP list to open training camp, leaving general manager John Lynch hopeful for a mid-camp return during the team’s “second window.” Instead, this freak knee injury halted his sophomore campaign before it could even begin. It’s a brutal outcome for a young player who was positioned for a pivotal development year.

As a rookie, Collins played in 16 games last season, posting 17 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. However, his 35.0 PFF grade was tied for the second-lowest among 94 interior defensive players who played at least 300 snaps, and that’s the reason some football fans do not consider him a star player. However, he was expected to have a bigger role this season as the 49ers’ likely starting nose tackle, so his absence is a major blow that will put even more pressure on an already thin defensive line.

With Collins out, the 49ers will enter Week 1 with Osa Odighizuwa, if he is healthy, and CJ West and Gracen Halton as their healthy defensive tackles. At defensive end, the 49ers are expected to use Nick Bosa, Keion White, Romello Height, and Khalid Kareem. To reinforce that dangerously thin rotation, San Francisco can lean on familiar depth already in Australia.

The 49ers brought practice squad interior linemen Sebastian Valdez and veteran Kevin Givens with them to Melbourne, giving the coaching staff two immediate candidates to elevate for game day. Meanwhile, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are returning from torn ACLs. Bosa is expected to play in Week 1, but Williams will start the season on the reserve/PUP list and will miss time. To make matters worse, undrafted defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. did not take part in Tuesday’s practice.

The 49ers have faced a similar situation before with Drake Jackson. Jackson suffered a similar patellar tendon tear in November 2023 and never played for the 49ers again. In May 2025, San Francisco waived Jackson with a failed physical designation after Lynch said Jackson had trouble recovering from his surgery. But with the concerning injury news, the team also received a major update on another player’s injury.

49ers get positive news on injury

The 49ers have been in Melbourne preparing for their season opener against the Rams. They also received a positive update on George Kittle, who tore his Achilles tendon in January against the Eagles.

After eight months of recovery, Kittle has returned to practice, and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak is happy with how well he is progressing.

“Super impressed with how he’s looked considering the injury he had and how quickly he got back out on the field and just committed to his rehab,” Kubiak said. “It’s been pretty cool to see Kittle out there looking like himself to me. Looking fresh. He’s practicing full speed. He’s getting a ton of reps. So I feel like we’re in good shape.”

The 49ers got good news about their defense because Nick Bosa is expected to play against the Rams. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris confirmed that Bosa has recovered well enough to return to the field.

“Oh, he’s going out there,” Morris said. “Whatever you want to say, he’s going. We’re not hiding that. Nick’s a pro at everything he does. The ultimate pro. I definitely anticipate him being out there because of who he is and what he’s done and how he’s gone about his process to get ready for this.”

The 49ers will face the Rams with a depleted defensive line but optimism on key offensive weapons.