We’re a few hours away from the San Francisco 49ers kicking off their 2026 season against the Los Angeles Rams.
Ahead of Week 1, the team officially placed defensive tackle Alfred Collins on the season-ending Injured Reserve List. No matter how you slice it, it’s a bummer for Collins. The second-round pick from a season ago was slated to be an integral part of Raheem Morris’s defense.
Collins battled a shoulder injury that kept him out of the first block of training camp practices. He was gun-shy.
Collins never looked comfortable, and it led to passive play. The idea was he’d play more, gain more confidence, and shake off the rust while playing himself into shape all in one. But a patellar tendon injury ended the chances of Collins getting a chance to play through those struggles.
The 49ers elevated defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo from the practice squad. He will wear No. 59. He’s a veteran who knows what to expect against a Sean McVay offense after practicing against it for the first three years of his career. Okoronkwo also has overlap with Raheem Morris during their time with the Rams.
Okoronkwo was the lone defensive lineman elevated from the practice squad. Leaving Sebastian Valdez and Kevin Givens on the practice squad is likely a combination of things.
The most significant being that Morris is comfortable with the rotation he can put onto the field. Maybe that is because a player like Jaden Dugger can hold his own at the line of scrimmage. It’s a good sign that Gracen Halton and James Thompson Jr. are healthy enough to play a role if needed. It also signals that Nick Bosa’s pitch count might be closer to 70 than 50%.
It’ll be fascinating to track who plays where among CJ West, Halton, Osa Odighizuwa, Keion White, Romello Height, and Khalid Kareem. That’s who the 49ers are rolling with in Australia against the Rams up front.
The 49ers also elevated wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge. He’s No. 86. Hodge was with the Falcons from 2022 through 2025. He was drafted by the Rams in 2018. Hodge played 219 special teams snaps across five different units last season. That’s how undrafted free agents stick on rosters. Hodge had six special teams tackles, but also missed five last year.
