Rookie linebacker has knee surgery
The 49ers addressed a depth-starved position by selecting two outside linebackers in the draft, but neither Notre Dame’s Darius Fleming nor Virginia’s Cam Johnson will make an impact this offseason because of injuries.
A month after Fleming, a fifth-round pick, was sidelined by a potentially season-ending ACL injury, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed Tuesday that Johnson has undergone a minor “clean out” surgical procedure, presumably on his knee.
Johnson, a seventhround pick, will be back for training camp in late July, said Harbaugh, who declined to specify the nature of Johnson’s injury. Virginia head coach Mike London and defensive coordinator Jim Reid have said Johnson played his senior season with a knee injury — they classified it as a deep bruise — that limited his explosiveness. Johnson had 30 tackles and four sacks as a senior after posting 53 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2010.
Harbaugh said Johnson, who was practicing last week, was hindered by his injury during offseason workouts.
“We felt that it was better to do it now,” Harbaugh said, “and I think our doctors were right to do it. So, I think this will benefit Cam, and he’ll be able to put his best foot forward come training camp.”
Harbaugh has acknowledged the 49ers “rolled the dice” last season by carrying only three outside linebackers on the roster, a gamble that worked as Ahmad Brooks, Aldon Smith and Parys Haralson each played in all 16 regular-season games.
That trio remains intact this season. The other outside linebackers on the roster are Eric Bakhtiari and undrafted free-agent Kourtnei Brown.
Bakhtiari, 27, played for Harbaugh at the University of San Diego and has since spent time on the practice squads of seven NFL teams, including two stints with the 49ers (2008, ’10). Bakhtiari had six specialteams tackles in three games with the Titans in 2009, the only games of his NFL career. Switching sides: Defensive tackle Will Tukuafu has been playing fullback during offseason practices. On Tuesday, the 293-pounder caught a swing pass from Alex Smith and raced about 10 yards into the end zone.
“I think the best will come when he puts the pads on,” Harbaugh said. “I think that’s when it’ll get really exciting and fun. A 280-plus guy playing fullback is going to bode well for us.”