Just hours before they were set to kick off against the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers dropped some tough news: defensive tackle Alfred Collins is officially on injured reserve. This isn’t some minor bump or bruise either; Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon at practice this week, meaning his 2025 campaign is over before it even really began. What a gut punch for the Niners, losing a key player to such a brutal injury right out of the gate.
Niners D-Line Taking Serious Hits
This Collins injury is more than just one bad break; it’s the second serious hit to the 49ers’ defensive line recently. Collins, a second-round pick in 2025, joins Sam Okuayinonu on the sidelines, who also went down with a broken foot that needed surgery. Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t mince words about the situation, saying, “Alfred tore his patellar tendon yesterday. That was a big loss. We’ve lost two D-lineman pretty much for the year after cuts and before the first game which has been a huge challenge. I’m hurting for Alfred.” Losing two D-linemen before Week 1? That’s a massive challenge for any team trying to compete. You just hate to see it happen to any player.
Practice Squad Elevates for Depth
To help plug the holes and bolster their depth, the Niners elevated wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad. Hodge, a former Pro Bowler as a returner, brings some experience with 67 catches for 1,026 yards and two touchdowns over 118 career games. Okoronkwo is a seven-year veteran who has tallied 17 sacks and 132 tackles over 81 career games, 13 of which were starts. They’ll need to step up big time with Collins sidelined, especially given the severity of the D-line injuries.
The 49ers and Rams are set to kick off from Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. ET. With key defensive pieces gone, every snap takes on new importance as the team tries to navigate these early season blows.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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