49ers' Culliver goes down with torn ACL
Chris Culliver's season is over with the San Francisco 49ers just as it was beginning.
The third-year defensive back sustained a torn ACL in his left knee during Thursday's training camp session that will sideline him for the 2013 season. The non-contact injury occurred on punt coverage about 45 minutes into pracitce.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a teary-eyed Culliver was consoled by 49ers general manager Trent Baalke as he was carted off the field while coach Jim Harbaugh and his teammates watched.
No date for surgery was announced.
Culliver joined a 49ers injury list that includes wide receiver Michael Crabtree (ruptured Achillies' tendon) and linebacker Patrick Willis (hand).
"You try to dodge bullets. Sometimes you don't dodge them all," Harbaugh said. "But what it means right now is there's guys that are getting an opportunity to show what they can do."
Culliver, a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft out of South Carolina, started six games for the 49ers last year and had an interception in the NFC championship game victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He finished the season with two interceptions, 47 tackles and one forced fumble.
With Culliver out, the 49ers may turn to 11-year veteran defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha, who joined the team during the offseason after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles.
