49ers lose DT Alfred Collins to season-ending patellar tendon tear days before Australia opener

The 49ers' opener in Australia just lost a piece of the middle of their defense. Second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins tore his patellar tendon in Tuesday's practice and is out for the season, David Lombardi of the 49ers beat reported — the injury landing two days before San Francisco opens the season against the Rams in Melbourne.

The timing compounds the loss. The injury strips a rotating interior lineman from a tackle room that now lists Osa Odighizuwa, CJ West, Gracen Halton and James Thompson Jr. as its 53-man options — and Lombardi notes Thompson hasn't been practicing with a hamstring issue, leaving the 49ers likely to elevate a practice-squad tackle (Sebastian Valdez or Kevin Givens) just to cover the Thursday-night snaps.

The front seven was already navigating damage. Edge rusher Sam Okuayinonu is on injured reserve until at least Week 5 after foot surgery, with journeyman Khalid Kareem signed to replace him — and Collins now adds the interior to the injury ledger.

Thursday's matchup loses a defender on the other side of the ball as well. The Rams will be without Aaron Donald, who is staying home to continue his ramp-up rather than make the trip to Australia — meaning the season opener between two division rivals will kick off with both defensive fronts short-handed. For the 49ers, Nick Bosa is set to play after his own availability was confirmed this week, a needed constant on a defensive line that keeps losing pieces around him.

Collins, a second-round pick in 2025, now faces the long rehab road of a patellar tendon repair — an injury that typically costs players the better part of a year — with his second NFL season over before it started.