If fans were hoping the proverbial pendulum would swing back the other way after the San Francisco 49ers suffered a serious rash of injuries last year, those hopes are swiftly being dashed.
Granted, the whole electrical substation conspiracy theory was debunked, but that hasn't changed the fact the Niners can't seem to get out of their own way with regard to the injury front.
And it's gotten worse.
San Francisco was hit with brutal injury news just days ahead of its Week 1 primetime showdown in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams—second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon during practice and will miss the season.
Despite a rough training camp, the 49ers nevertheless had high hopes for Collins after using a second-round pick on him during the 2025 NFL Draft, and the anticipated growth in year two was expected to play a pivotal role in the Niners' defensive front.
Now, San Francisco is left scrambling for replacement options. And it's not the only spot that has generated long-term worries and concerns, pointing at the bigger injury issue that seemingly never goes away.
Alfred Collins is just 1 example of already-existing brutal 49ers injuries
Collins isn't just the only 49ers starter poised to miss all of 2026. At the start of camp, third-year wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was sent to injured reserve when the Niners training staff determined surgery was best for an injured PCL in his knee.
Thankfully, the maturation of rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling has helped compensate for Pearsall's absence, but San Francisco's 2024 Round 1 investment in Pearsall is looking worse and worse by the year, given his injury history.
Additionally, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu's foot injury is expected to keep him out for the bulk of 2026, too.
The 49ers may have lost three presumptive starters before the season even began:
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 9, 2026
WR Ricky Pearsall (knee)
DE Sam Okuayinonu (foot)
DT Alfred Collins (knee)
The 49ers' regular-season campaign hasn't even started yet.
A year ago, the Niners somehow managed to navigate an injury-riddled season to 12 wins and even a playoff victory. Asking them to do the same for a second consecutive year might be too tall an ask, and it's understandable why some experts feel San Francisco will scuffle and collapse under that weight, should the injuries pile up once more.
Judging by what's happened so far, it seems more likely than not this'll be the case.
Perhaps there'll be some letup on the injury front. While the injuries ahead of the regular season are ominous and concerning, they don't automatically translate into another injury-plagued campaign. The 49ers can continue to hope for better luck as the weeks go by.
Too bad the pre-Week 1 injuries indicate otherwise.
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