SANTA CLARA — Alfred Colins and CJ West still have long journeys ahead of them, but the 49ers’ rookies enjoyed the moment in San Francisco’s win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football.
The defensive linemen both recorded their first NFL sacks in the prime-time victory with takedowns of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers.
“I kind of blacked out, but just very happy I was able to do that for my team,” Collins said after the game. “First of many. Just a testament to our hard work, my teammates, D-line pushing us, our coaches, everybody pushing us to be better. Obviously, all for them.”
On Wednesday, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh expressed excitement for the two defenders getting validation for their diligence and hard work. For first-year players entering the league, it can be a challenge to get up to speed after spending much of the prior offseason prepping for the NFL draft.
“They’re doing a really nice job,” Saleh said. “It was awesome to see it, awesome for them to get the production because they’ve been working hard at it, but they’re still young. They’re only going to get better.”
The 49ers selected three defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft to add youth to the position. But with young players comes an acclimation process. Unfortunately for first-round Mykel Williams, his rookie season was cut short by an ACL injury suffered in Week 9.
West and Collins have had to forge ahead without Williams on the field, and their bond has grown even closer. When Collins broke through the offensive line, not only taking down Rivers but also forcing a fumble, West ran to his teammate to congratulate him.
“When he got [his first sack], I was the first person to be there to celebrate with him because he deserves it, he deserves everything,” West said. “It was awesome to see that.”
Likewise, Collins made sure to celebrate West when he registered his own takedown of Rivers a little later in the contest. While the Texas product is happy when any of his teammates makes a play, this one meant a little more.
“Heck yeah, that’s my dog,” Collins said of West. “Seeing everybody else do their thing, that makes me so happy. I’ve seen the journey; we are just getting started. First of many for both of us, so I’m just really happy for him.”
Collins might have had an even more challenging journey to the field with his offseason limited by a calf injury suffered before being drafted by the 49ers. The defensive tackle has completely reworked his body, with advice from All-Pro edge rusher Nick Bosa and the team nutrition staff, slimming down approximately 30 pounds since his arrival in the Bay Area.
West is ecstatic that he and his fellow rookie are enjoying some of the fruits of their labor.
“That was huge,” West said. “Seeing me and Alfred get that means a lot because we put in a lot of work as rookies. To share that moment together was huge because we share a lot of moments together. To share that one was awesome. Really happy for each other.”
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast