<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Kn<span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:100%">ee injury likely to end season for 49ers' Oliver</span>By Matthew Barrows - Bee Staff WriterLast Updated 12:19 pm PDT Wednesday, June 6, 2007The injury that sidelined 49ers defensive end Melvin Oliver on Tuesday turned out to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament.Surgery has yet to be scheduled, but the 23-year-old Oliver is expected to miss the 2007 season.The injury occurred early in Tuesday's organized team activity when Oliver turned to drop into coverage. He lay on the practice field for several minutes before team trainers carted him off the field. Oliver has been one of several players backing up veteran Bryant Young at left defensive end in the 49ers' new 3-4 defense. Newcomer Sam Rayburn, who agreed to a one-year contract with the team Tuesday, is expected to fill in at that position.A sixth-round draft pick a year ago, Oliver filled in nicely along the defensive line, starting 14 games and finishing with 44 tackles, a sack and a touchdown off a fumble recovery.</div>Oliver's injury might've saved him a roster spot with us this year. With all the additions to the D-Line it would've been difficult to make the final roster, but he can be on IR for the year. And next year he'll be back and ready to compete for a spot again. Oh and I like the Rayburn signin, tough-hardworkin young vet that the young guys on the line can look up to besides Young and Douglas. And it was only for $595,000 lol.
Like you said, it's probably a blessing in disguise for him as he might not have made the roster anyways. Now he can sit a year and keep his pay on the IR.
