49ers’ Cornerback Chris Culliver Out for the Season with Torn ACL
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NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The injuries are piling up for the San Francisco 49ers as cornerback Chris Culliver will miss the entire 2013 season after suffering a torn left ACL.
After 45 mintues into Thursday’s practice session, Culliver was covering a punt when he went down to the ground in pain. It was a non-contact drill, but the damage had been done.
Culliver was the team’s third cornerback, which in today’s pass-happy NFL, is an important role on the team.
“What it means right now is there are some guys getting an opportunity to show what they can do, which is a positive there,” 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “And there’s people who have been doing that.
A former third-round pick out of South Carolina, Culliver recorded 47 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions in 2013.
Culliver’s injury is just the latest blow to a hurting Niners’ roster. The team is already dealing with an injury to wide receiver Michael Crabtree. To make matters worse, All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis suffered a “slight fracture” in his right hand.
Last season, the 49ers had the third overall ranked defense in the NFL in 2012.
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