Chris Culliver, a defensive back for the San Francisco 49ers, will miss the entire 2013 NFL season after tearing his ACL in training camp on Thursday.
Culliver was on the field running down after a punt, though it was a non-contact drill at the time. He dropped to the ground in noticeable pain and had to be carted off the field. It was as if Culliver knew the news he was going to receive from the doctors right away, by his reaction.
Culliver is not the star cornerback on the team, but he was a productive one in 2012, registering 47 total tackles and two interceptions.
This is the second 49ers injury in as many days – Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis fractured his hand in Wednesday’s practice. Willis said to only have a minor fracture however, and is expected to be back on the field soon.
What Culliver’s injury means for the San Francisco secondary is that the depth is getting thinner. There will need to be players to step in and fill the void left by Culliver, who would have been an impact players for the fourth-ranked passing defense in the NFL a season ago.
San Francisco remains the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl, but injuries could be the fastest way to ending that. The 49ers still have every preseason game to plot in cornerbacks and see which ones have the best fit. There is also the option to go out and bring a new player in as well.