49ers Lose DL Alfred Collins to Torn Patellar Tendon, Out for 2026

The 49ers just took a hit up front. San Francisco placed defensive lineman Alfred Collins on injured reserve after he tore his patellar tendon during a practice session in Australia this week, and the injury shelves him for the entire 2026 season. It was an expected move once the diagnosis came back — a torn patellar tendon is not the kind of thing you rehab in a few weeks.

To fill out the game-day roster, the team elevated receiver KhaDarel Hodge and defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo. There's a small storyline attached: both players began their NFL careers with the Rams back in 2018, so this one carries some revenge-game flavor for the pair suiting up against a familiar opponent.

What It Actually Means

Let's be honest about the fantasy relevance here. Collins is a defensive lineman, so his absence doesn't directly move any offensive skill-position needle. Where it matters is on the margins: fewer bodies in the trenches can nudge a defense's efficiency, and that's worth tracking if you're leaning on the San Francisco DST in any format.

The two elevations are even quieter from a roster standpoint. Hodge is a depth receiver and special-teams contributor, not a target magnet, and an elevation is a one-game plug — not a signal that a role is opening up. Okoronkwo is a rotational pass-rusher whose snaps won't show up in your box score unless he's stacking sacks.

The Fantasy Takeaway

Nobody involved here needs a spot on your bench right now. Collins was never a fantasy piece to begin with, and the two call-ups are game-day fillers until proven otherwise. Keep Hodge on your watch list purely as a warm body — if injuries thin out the 49ers' receiver room and his elevation turns into a real rotation role, then we can talk. For now, there's no add, no drop, no start here. Just note it and move on.