49ers CB Chris Culliver to miss season after tearing ACL in left knee
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver will miss the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Culliver was injured Thursday during a non-contact drill. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Friday that the loss of the third-year veteran "puts stress" on a cornerback group that faltered late last season and in the playoffs during San Francisco's run to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers brought in four-time All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha in April to augment the position behind starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown. The team returned its top five cornerbacks from last season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Culliver was San Francisco's third cornerback the past two seasons and played a key role in the team's coverage packages, often taking over at left cornerback when the 49ers went to their nickel defense.