The San Francisco 49ers are just hours away from their 2026 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s already a tough scene down south. They just officially slapped defensive tackle Alfred Collins on the season-ending Injured Reserve List. That’s a total gut punch for Collins, a second-round pick from last year who was supposed to be a cornerstone for Raheem Morris’s defense! Meanwhile, up here in the Emerald City, we’re still buzzing from our own Seattle Seahawks grabbing a huge 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots! What a way to kick off the year for our squad!
Collins’ Rough Road Ends Early
Man, you gotta feel for Alfred Collins. This dude battled a shoulder injury through the first part of training camp, never looked comfy, and was playing passive. The whole idea was he’d play himself into shape, shake off that rust, and gain confidence. But then, a nasty patellar tendon injury just absolutely crushed those chances. He’s out for the season before it even really began. That’s a massive hole in the 49ers’ front, and it’s a serious test for Raheem Morris right out of the gate when they face McVay’s Rams.
Who Steps Up For The Gold Rush?
To fill that void, the 49ers elevated defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad, and he’ll rock No. 59. This guy’s a veteran, knows Sean McVay’s offense inside and out after practicing against it for three years with the Rams, and he’s got history with Morris. Smart move there, bringing in a familiar face. It’s interesting they only brought up one DL, leaving Sebastian Valdez and Kevin Givens on the practice squad. This tells you Morris is feeling good about his current rotation, especially with guys like Jaden Dugger able to hold their own. Plus, it’s a good sign that Gracen Halton and James Thompson Jr. are healthy enough to jump in if needed. This also hints that Nick Bosa’s snap count might be closer to 70 percent than 50 percent, which is a big deal for their pass rush. They’re rolling with CJ West, Halton, Osa Odighizuwa, Keion White, Romello Height, and Khalid Kareem up front against the Rams.
They also elevated wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge, number 86. Hodge played with the Falcons from 2022 through 2025 and racked up 219 special teams snaps last season across five different units, even with five missed tackles and six special teams tackles. That’s how undrafted free agents fight to stick around.
So, while the 49ers are dealing with a tough injury blow and making these roster shuffles for their Week 1 clash against the Rams in Australia, we here in Seattle are riding high after our opening week win! Our Hawks are already showing that early season form, and it’s just getting started. Keep that energy up, Emerald City! This season is gonna be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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