49ers 5th Round Pick OLB Darius Fleming Tears ACL, Team Keeping Options Open

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the first major injury for the 2012 rookie class has hit the San Francisco 49ers: 

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Rough break for #49ers: 5th round LB Darius Fleming tore his ACL during his 1st rookie mini-camp, his agent @AndySimms told me

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 15, 2012

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Seventh-round pick Cam Johnson and recent tryout player and free agent signing Eric Bakhtiari could be presented with a golden opportunity to make the team with this injury to Fleming. The 49ers could carry a fourth OLB in the regular season behind Parys Haralson, Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith, although they didn't last year. Fleming will certainly miss at least the first 6-9 weeks of the year on the PUP list.

Johnson was Mike Mayock's No. 50 overall player, but fell in the draft. He has a medical condition (sickle cell trait) and CBS Sports Rob Rang called Johnson a "tweener" that might not be ideal for 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE. Bakhtiari was a teammate of 49ers backup QB Josh Johnson under their head coach, Jim Harbuagh, at the University of San Diego. He has spent time with six NFL teams, including a stint with the 49ers practice squad in 2009. 

Rapoport reports the 49ers are keeping "all options open" on Fleming's status for 2012, and Fleming had signed his four-year, 2.264 million dollar rookie contract the day before the injury. ACL tears are usually a one-year injury, but his agent told Rapoport that Fleming only tore the ACL, which could shorten his recovery time. Fleming being able to play a role as a speed pass rush specialist in the playoffs eight months from now is not impossible. 

The 49ers are at the 90-man roster limit, so that could give them a good reason to chalk up this year for their 2012 fifth-round pick and sign another player they got a look at during last week's minicamp.