SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- 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 co-ordinator 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 Franciscos 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. Culliver was San Franciscos third cornerback the past two seasons and played a key role in the teams coverage packages, often taking over at left cornerback when the 49ers went to their nickel defence. Now the 49ers have to groom somebody else for that role, which could affect how the team uses even its projected starters this season. "Obviously we took a shot (Thursday) and it puts a stress on everybody else in that group," Fangio said. "Weve got the guys that were here last year and we brought in Nnamdi to try and help shore up that group, and right now were just going to have to see how it sorts itself out here in the preseason games and through the rest of practices." Culliver was San Franciscos biggest cornerback last year and often was used in press coverage on the left side when the 49ers went with more than their regular four starting defensive backs. San Francisco, which ranked third in the NFL in total defence last year, went with extra defensive backs on nearly 70 per cent of its defensive plays last season. Fangio said regular right cornerback Brown could get a look on the left side and also covering slot receivers in nickel pages. Regular left cornerback Rogers usually covered slot receivers when the 49ers used three cornerbacks in coverage last season. Holdover veterans Tramaine Brock and Perrish Cox also could move up in the pecking order at cornerback. Brock had two interceptions in 2011 while getting regular action as the teams third cornerback before losing the job to Culliver after a hand injury. "Now may be an opportunity for him to go out there and show what hes got and take his shot," Fangio said. Cox had 14 tackles and knocked down two passes in his first year with the 49ers last season. Despite finishing fourth in the NFL in pass defence last season, San Franciscos pass coverage had some rocky performances near the end of the year. Green Bays Aaron Rodgers, Atlantas Matt Ryan and Baltimores Joe Flacco combined to torch the Niners for 940 yards and eight touchdown passes in three post-season games. The 49ers then signed Asomugha, entering his 11th NFL season, to a one-year deal and also traded a conditional draft pick to Tampa Bay on July 19 to acquire veteran cornerback Eric Wright. That trade was voided when Wright failed his team physical. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Asomugha has ideal size to handle Cullivers role, and he built a reputation as a top cover corner during his first eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders. But that reputation took a hit the past two seasons after Asomugha signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles as one of the NFLs top free agents of 2011. The Eagles released Asomugha in March, and the 49ers are still determining exactly where he fits in now that Culliver is out. "We really didnt know what we were getting when we got Nnamdi," Fangio said. "Hes got some good days out here and some days where we werent sure if he was going to be able to still have it. So I think were kind of in between with him right now. Hopefully, hell still have some gas left in his tank to go out there and play like he did prior to going to Philadelphia. So I think the jury is still out there." Fangio said the 49ers are unlikely to bring in another veteran free agent at this stage of the summer. San Francisco also drafted cornerback Marcus Cooper in the seventh round this spring, and first-round pick Eric Reid and free-agent veteran Craig Dahl are newcomers at safety who also could figure in coverage packages. Cullivers injury is one of several Fangio has had to deal with as he adjusts his defence this summer. All-Pro middle linebackers Patrick Willis (hand) and NaVorro Bowman (hamstring) are both on the mend from injuries and are missing practice, and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Aldon Smith is a recent addition to that list. Rookie defensive linemen Tank Carradine (knee), the teams second-round pick, and fifth-rounder Quinton Dial (toe) both are on San Franciscos active/non-football injury list. "Hopefully, it wont press on into the season," Fangio said. "The good part of it is some of these younger guys will get a lot more reps and be more prepared if theyre called on." Air Max Cheap Outlet . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Air Max Cheap Shoes . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. http://www.airmaxcheapoutlet.com/ . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Air Max Cheap Online .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Air Max Clearance .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons.CROMWELL, Conn. -- Ken Duke needed 187 starts on the PGA Tour to get his first win, securing it at a tournament that is building a reputation for such breakthroughs. The 44-year-old journeyman made a 2 1/2 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday to beat Chris Stroud at the Travelers Championship. Stroud, who also was looking for his first title, had chipped in from 51 feet on the 18th hole, to get to 12-under par and force the playoff. But Duke made the better approach shot on the second extra hole, bouncing his ball in front of the flag and rolling it close. "Yeah, its been a long time," said Duke, who turned pro in 1994. "Ive been on the Canadian tour, the mini tours, Asian Tour, South American Tour, all of them; Web.com, and its just great to be a part of this big family on the PGA Tour." Duke, who came in ranked 144th in the world, is the sixth golfer in eight years to get his first PGA Tour win here, joining J.J. Henry (2006), Hunter Mahan (2007), Bubba Watson (2010), Fredrik Jacobsen (2011) and Marc Leishman last year. Canadas Graham DeLaet finished a stroke back in third place with a 269. Watson finished fourth, two shots behind, after making a six on the par-3 16th hole. "You gotta believe in yourself in everything you do," Duke said. "Thats why those guys at the top are winning week in, week out because they believe they can do it. Its kind of one of those things once you finally do it it might come easier the next time. Thats kind of the way I feel." Duke wouldnt have been in position to win at all had luck not intervened on the 10th hole, when his ball ricocheted off a tree and onto the green to about 5 feet from the pin, allowing him to make birdie. After a 17-foot birdie putt on the next hole, he made a 45-footer on the 13th hole, a shot that looked as though it might go past the hole to the right, before falling in. He battled Watson for the lead down the back nine, until the former Masters champion found trouble on the 16th. Watson put his drive into the water and put his next shot over the green. He finished two strokes back in fourth place. "The wind affected the first shot, and the wind didnt affect the next shot," Watson said. "I flew it three feet past the hole, which you cant do right now because the greens are so firm." Duke looked as though he had the tournament sewn up after saving par on 18, despite a tee shot that went well right and onto a hill, and a second shot that went just over the green. He used a putter to put the ball within 2 feet, then sank the putt as the crowd roared for what they thought was a winning shot. It lookedd even more secure when Strouds second shot hit near the stick, but then rolled well off the green.dddddddddddd That just set up the dramatic chip shot. Stroud hit his tee shot over the cart path and 94 yards from the hole on the first playoff hole, while Dukes first shot jumped out of a fairway bunker and into the rough. Duke bounced his second shot onto the green. Strouds went into a greenside bunker. Stroud chipped to 8 feet but had to watch as Green almost sank a long putt that would have ended it. The two both struck the ball well on the second playoff hole, but Stroud missed a 25-foot birdie putt, and Duke made his short putt. "I had three shots from 94 yards on 18, the exact same yardage, and I could not figure out a way to stop that ball," Stroud said. "Regulation, luckily, I chipped it in." Watson, Charley Hoffman and DeLaet began the day tied for the lead, but 21 other players were within five strokes. Webb Simpson shot a 65 to finish at 271, then headed home immediately after his round despite being just a stroke behind the leaders at the time. He said he knew the score wouldnt be good enough to win. "Im itching to get to my family, so Im going to head to the airport," he said. Justin Rose followed his U.S. Open win by shooting 6-under par for this tournament. He was in contention, with two birdies on his first seven holes, but didnt get another until the final hole and made three bogeys. He said fatigue was a factor. "Im still able to put one foot in front of the other," he said. "I still feel OK, but my guess is theres just a little bit of sharpness that I might be lacking." No player has gone back-to-back after capturing the U.S. Open since 1997, when Ernie Els won the Buick Classic at the Westchester Country Club in New York. Rose plans to play next week at Congressional before taking two weeks off to prepare for the British Open. DeLaet, a native of Weyburn, Sask., said his thoughts this week have been with the people of Alberta, where widespread flooding is blamed for at least three deaths and forced thousands to evacuate. He had the words "For Alberta" written on his cap Sunday. The 2009 Canadian tour player of the year pledged to donate $1,000 for every birdie he made to help the relief efforts. PGA Tour Canada, a bank and a Canadian businessman all agreed to match the donation. He finished with three birdies on Sunday and nine for the weekend. "Hopefully it puts a small dent in what they need," he said. "But our hearts are still with them." Ottawas Brad Fritsch shot 70 to finish at 1 under in a tie for 51st. ' ' '