The San Francisco 49ers kick off their season Thursday night against division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, in Melbourne, Australia. Unfortunately, they've lost a key defensive contributor to a season-ending injury just days before the anticipated matchup. On Wednesday, NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco reported that head coach Kyle Shanahan said defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon in practice, ending his season.
Collins, a 6-foot-6, 332-pounds DT, was heading into his second season after becoming a second-round draft pick for the 49ers last year. He appeared in 16 games and started one for San Francisco last season, recording 17 combined tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Collins, 24, was mostly healthy during his college career, playing in 64 games for the Texas Longhorns.
Read more: Chiefs to Be Without Key Starter for Week 1 ‘Monday Night Football’ Clash Over a week before Collins suffered his season-ending injury, the team had waived defensive tackle Bryson Eason. The Kansas City Chiefs claimed him off waivers a day later, and in hindsight, Eason might have been able to fill the void left by Collins this season. The San Francisco 49ers already received tough news for their defense when it was announced that defensive end Sam Okuayinonu is on injured reserve as he heads into surgery for a broken foot this weekend.
They also had several players listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's big game, including tight end George Kittle, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive end Romello Height, and cornerback Renardo Green. However, none of these players are expected to miss the season due to their injuries. Last season, San Francisco's defense ranked below the league average, allowing 340.2 yards and 21.8 points per game.
They're already heading into the game at Melbourne Cricket Ground as the underdogs, with the Los Angeles Rams favored to win by more than a field goal. The two teams will kick off their seasons on Thursday at 8:35 p.m. More news: NFL Analyst Shockingly Predicts a Titans Playoff Run: ‘I Believe in Your QB’ For more about the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL, visit Newsweek Sports.
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