The early-season injuries keep on piling up for the NFC defending champion San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive back Chris Culliver tore the ACL in his left knee during Wednesday’s practice, joining wide receiver Michael Crabtree (torn Achilles) on the sidelines with what are thought to be season ending injuries. Linebacker Patrick Willis also suffered a minor fracture of his right hand in practice earlier this week and his availability remains unknown.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Culliver was injured while covering a punt during a non-contact portion of practice. The third-year defensive back was carted off the field with tears in his eyes, according to the newspaper reported.
A third-round draft pick out of South Carolina in the 2011 NFL Draft, Culliver started six regular season games last season for the 49ers and also picked off Matt Ryan in San Francisco's 28-24 win over the Falcons in the NFC Championship game.
"You try to dodge bullets. Sometimes you don't dodge them all," coach Jim Harbaugh said when asked about the team's injury situation on Thursday. "But, what it means right now is there's guys that are getting an opportunity to show what they can do."
The Niners previously signed former Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha and the 11-year veteran is now expected to be counted on even more than initially planned.
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