SANTA CLARA — Due to injuries, the 49ers are relying on rookie defensive linemen Alfred Collins, CJ West, and Sebastian Valdez for the 2025 NFL season, with all three gaining valuable game experience in a preseason loss to the Broncos. Coach Kyle Shanahan praised their progress, emphasizing the importance of these reps for their development, while defensive coordinator Robert Saleh noted Collins’ improvement in technique and West’s consistent performance.
