Hamza

Abdullah

A gunner on the punt team, Culliver got mixed up with rookie CB Marcus Cooper and tore his ACL. The soon-to-be 25-year-old was overmatched in Super Bowl 47, but earned a positive season grade from Pro Football Focus. Culliver was penciled in as the Niners’ No. 3 corner. Nnamdi Asomugha, Tramaine Brock, and Perrish Cox will now vie for that role. Culliver’s loss is a huge blow to a San Francisco team already needy at cornerback. The 49ers tried trading for Eric Wright in July, but Wright failed his physical and was released.

Abdullah’s injury was originally diagnosed as a strained hip flexor, but was revealed to be a tear. Curome Cox will serve as John Lynch’s primary backup in the interim, and Domonique Foxworth could see more action at safety.

The teams discussed a trade earlier in camp. Wesley is expected to back up first-year starter Bernard “Bonecrusher” Pollard at strong safety this season.

Abdullah should be day-to-day. He is a special teamer and reserve defender.

Brandon, the Broncos’ No. 3 safety, was arrested for domestic violence last summer. Usual special teamers Curome Cox and Hamza Abdullah will likely play more while he misses time. Brandon’s loss could hurt if free safety John Lynch or strong safety Nick Ferguson goes down early in the season.

Krause lost out on the third TE spot to Darnell Dinkins. Minter showed promise as a rookie, but seems to have never fully recovered from a knee injury last season. Pittman, Steptoe and Purcell could end up on the practice squad.

He could be placed on IR. The Texans had already lost Glenn Earl, and C.C. Brown and Jason Simmons both have bruised shoulder.

Owens was stuck behind $18.2 million dollar man Visanthe Shiancoe and Jim Kleinsasser. Body was, well, what his name suggests.