playNick WagonerSep 8, 2026, 11:23 PM ETCloseNick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga.Multiple AuthorsMELBOURNE, Australia — San Francisco 49ers starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon in the team’s Tuesday practice in Australia, an injury that will keep him out for the 2026 season.Coach Kyle Shanahan announced the injury Wednesday and confirmed that Collins will not return this year.
That injury comes on the heels of defensive end Sam Okuayinonu landing on injured reserve with a broken foot that will require surgery over the weekend.”Alfred tore his patellar tendon yesterday,” Shanahan said. “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…
It was real unfortunate for him.”According to Shanahan, the injury happened in Tuesday’s practice just before the team started 11-on-11 drills. Like Okuayinonu, Collins will also require surgery and go on injured reserve in the near future, ending his second season before it could start.The Niners had big plans for Collins in 2026 after working him in as a rookie last season. Originally a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Collins played in 16 games last season, posting 17 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.Collins was one of the heroes of San Francisco’s Week 5 win against the Los Angeles Rams, forcing and recovering a fumble at the Niners’ 1-yard line to help preserve a fourth-quarter lead.With Collins out of the mix, the Niners will enter Thursday night’s season opener against the Rams with C.J. West and rookie Gracen Halton as the only healthy options on the 53-man roster who can start next to fellow defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Undrafted rookie James Thompson Jr. is another possibility, but he has missed practice with a hamstring issue.The Niners do have a couple of practice squad options — Sebastian Valdez and Kevin Givens — with them in Melbourne whom they could elevate to play the Rams.”Any D-lineman is a possibility unless you guys can name some guys we can fly here real quick,” Shanahan said.Elsewhere on the injury front, Shanahan confirmed that the team is aiming to play defensive end Nick Bosa (right ACL) and tight end George Kittle (right Achilles) against the Rams, though he also acknowledged they’ll have to manage them closely in their first game back.”We’ve got to be smart with that,” Shanahan said. “Bosa not practicing as much, Kittle, he’s had this whole week but they both look great. But we definitely have got to be smart with that.”
