Manny Lawson, starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, will miss the rest of the 2007 because of a torn ACL that he sustained in practice on Wednesday.

The 49ers run a 3–4 defense, which relies on athletic linebackers to excel in pass rushing, pass defense, and stopping the run. Lawson, a first-round draft pick in 2006, was probably the most athletic linebacker on the roster. His replacement will likely be 9-year veteran Hannibal Navies, who clearly believes he can step in and get the job done:

“I’m not just some guy that just got here and all of a sudden needs to be playing,” Navies said. “Obviously, I’ve been in there playing a lot last year in the defense. I know the players, I know the coaches, I know the scheme, so it’s not uncommon.”