When Alfred Collins made the game-changing forced fumble and recovery in the 49ers’ 26-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, it took a minute for the second-round 2025 NFL Draft pick to realize what he had done.
“I didn’t even know,” Collins said Monday with a smile. “I was looking up, and I thought he scored, but then I was like, ‘The ball is right there.’ It was awesome to be able to make that play for my team.”
With less than two minutes left in regulation, the Rams were moving the ball down the field with a little help from defensive penalties. Deommodore Lenoir was called for defensive holding, and two plays later, Mykel Williams was flagged for illegal use of hands.
The penalties helped the Rams reach the 2-yard line. Quarterback Matthew Stafford handed off the ball to Kyren Williams, and Collins dove in from the right side of the field with a full swing. The defensive tackle knocked the ball loose, and then recovered the fumble.
“It was just instinct,” Collins said of the play. “I couldn’t really tell you how I did it, I just did it.”
The rookie, who has seen increased playing time as the 2025 NFL season has progressed, has been putting in a lot of work — not only on the field, but in the classroom. Collins shared that when he lined up for the play, the entire defense anticipated what the Rams’ offense had planned.
“Just the way their body position was, was you knew it was going to be a run,” Collins said. “Just football IQ, and watching film we were able to [figure it out].”
This wasn’t the first time Collins had helped change the outcome of a game by forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter. In his senior season at the University of Texas, Colins chased down Arkansas receiver CJ Brown, swatted the ball out and ensured a 20-10 win for the Longhorns.
“Felt like it was my birthday,” Collins said of the phone calls and texts that he received after the 49ers secured the overtime victory. “Just hard work I put in with these guys every day in the film room and on the field. So when your opportunity strikes, you have to be ready.”
Collins will continue to earn more opportunities, especially considering the injuries on the defensive line. The 49ers will be without Yetur Gross-Matos for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury, not to mention the group already is without Nick Bosa for the remainder of the season.
“I’m just happy we are winning,” Collins said. “If it was easy, everyone would do it. We find ways to win.”
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