LAS VEGAS — Kyle Shanahan doubled down Thursday night that it wasn’t Alfred Collins’ fault.Collins, the San Francisco 49ers’ second-year defensive tackle, has not been especially impressive in training camp, the joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers or the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. In fact, the presumed starter was out there playing with the scrubs (no offense intended) in the third quarter in Vegas.Collins has been laboring a bit coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.“It was just good to get him back,” the 49ers coach said after the 18-12 win. “He had a real late start — which is not his fault. He had some big surgeries to get over this offseason, so he’s got as late a start as anyone, and that’s why I thought it was really important for him to play.“He went there, two drives into the third quarter, which is more than probably what we usually do for him, but he’s a little bit behind — which again wasn’t his fault.”49ers' talented running backs finally assembleMatt BarrowsShanahan said that with three days off this weekend and two practices before the team flies to Australia, he thinks Collins will “be ready by Week 1.”The 332-pound Collins may have, again, gotten pushed around more than he is used to, but he was all smiles after the game Thursday.“I’m good,” he said. “Every day, I got the opportunity to go out and practice, and get better. I didn’t know I was going to still be playing in the third quarter, but whatever coach (tells) me to do, I’m going to do it.”In his rookie season, Collins also overcame a slow start after starting late due to a calf injury. He finished strong, announcing his arrival with a game-saving punch-out of the ball at the goal line Oct. 2 against the Los Angeles Rams.Teammate Fred Warner called it “one of the best plays I’ve seen by any player” and said Collins was well ahead of where the All-Pro linebacker was as a rookie: “The sky is the limit.”Collins started one game, playing 16, and finished with a sack, two forced fumbles, four quarterback hits and 17 tackles. He appreciates his teammates’ and coaching staff’s confidence as he is set to replace departed veterans Kalia Davis and Jordan Elliott in the lineup, alongside former Dallas Cowboys starter Osa Odighizuwa.“I am just being intentional with my technique and my conditioning and stuff like that, because I’m a little bit behind,” Collins said. “But every day is a step in the right direction.”Collins has noticed some younger teammates like undrafted rookies James Thompson Jr. and Bryson Eason making a strong push.“We got some dogs, man,” Collins said. “I think we’ve got a lot of them on the defensive line. All of them are really good and impactful to the game, so yeah, I’m excited.”Thompson, out of Illinois, has been especially good, but it might be hard to make the initial 53-man roster on Sunday afternoon because the 49ers have Odighizuwa, Collins, C.J. West and rookie draft pick Gracen Halton ahead of him. And on passing downs, end Keion White can move inside.White did that on Thursday and had a run stop and sack. Unlike Collins, White asked to stay in the game after missing the offseason program with a gunshot wound to his ankle and then sustaining an abductor injury early in training camp.“I didn’t want to play him too long but he’s been so behind, just getting a late start in camp,” Shanahan said. “We were going to take him out a series before and he said, ‘Coach, I’m a little rusty. Let me get a little more time in.’ He got one more drive and he got a sack.”Mykel Williams, last year’s first-round pick who looks like he might miss the first four weeks coming back from knee surgery, can also move from end to inside on passing downs.Aug 30, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms