Darius

Fleming

Fleming was highly recruited out of high school, but wasn’t terribly productive at Notre Dame. He had 55 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble as a senior. At 6'2/245, Fleming will have to make a mark as an outside rusher to have an impact in San Francisco. He’s been slapped with a “tweener” tag.

Fleming played all over the formation at Notre Dame, seeing action at both inside and outside ‘backer and with his hand in the dirt. He’ll be a special teamer and reserve initially, and could push for a Parys Haralson sort of role down the line. Fleming isn’t dangerously explosive, but he is a sure tackler, plays through the whistle, and should have a long career.

Fleming’s injury was of the non-contact variety, bending his knee awkwardly. Initial reports suggested a hamstring injury, but an MRI confirmed a torn ACL. Fortunately for the former Notre Dame star, Fleming signed a four-year, $2.264 million contract one day before the injury. Fleming will likely spend his rookie season on injured reserve.

Fleming tore his left ACL at May rookie camp, and will likely spend the entire season on PUP. The 49ers could conceivably revisit Fleming’s recovery after the first six regular season games, but we don’t expect to see him before 2013.

A fifth-round pick this year, Fleming tore his ACL ten minutes into training camp. Hampton tore both ACLs at Iowa before transferring to Southern Illinois. Coach Jim Harbaugh revealed in late July that the undrafted free agent had bone spurs removed from a “lower extremity.” Both players are eligible to be removed from NFI in Week 7. We don’t expect to see either this year, though.

The rookie fifth-rounder suffered a torn ACL in the first practice of the year in May. While he is said to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, the 49ers have the linebacker depth to avoid rushing him back this season.

Manningham is recovering from a torn ACL and PCL, and he’s not expected to return to the field until late August. Williams is working his way back from a torn ACL, and Hunter is roughly eight months removed from tearing his Achilles’ tendon. Fleming tore his ACL in last year’s rookie minicamp. All four players are eligible to practice with the team once they pass a physical.

Fleming was drafted as an outside linebacker in the fifth round out of Notre Dame last year, but he tore his ACL in rookie minicamp. He’s expected to be full-go for the start of training camp next week, and he’ll try to earn a roster spot behind starters Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.

Fleming, 24, was waived by the 49ers earlier this week. A 2012 fifth-round pick, he’s missed the last two seasons due to ACL injuries. Even if healthy, Fleming is a long-shot to make the Patriots.

Fleming, a 2012 fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, tore his ACL during rookie minicamp before tearing it again last summer. His career may be in jeopardy.