SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Quinton Dial put a punishing hit on running back Alfonso Smith late in 11-on-11 work. Tony Jerod-Eddie pounded Jonathan Martin not once but twice, even sending him to his backside. In their first audition to become San Franciscos starting nose tackle, Dial and Jerod-Eddie each showed off impressive physical strength in the middle of the defensive line Sunday. They have a tough job to replace Glenn Dorsey, who went down with a torn left biceps on Friday and will need surgery. While he isnt being ruled out for the entire 2014 season, the recovery is expected to be extensive -- perhaps three to four months. "It was kind of a freaky thing," defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio said Sunday. "Obviously, very disappointed for Glenn and him personally. He was in great shape. Played great for us last year." The practice Sunday was a physical one away from the defensive line, too. Two days after wideout Anquan Boldin was sent to the locker room, cornerback Chris Culliver got banished to the sideline by coach Jim Harbaugh, who hollered to his team about clean play and not needing to be overly physical against teammates. The coach walked toward the locker room chatting briefly with Culliver and patting him on the back. Also in the mix to fill in at nose tackle is Mike Purcell, who signed as an undrafted free agent last year and would have to make a big leap up the depth chart from the practice squad. "Tony did fine last year when he was in there," Fangio said. "We just got to get him re-honed up in there. We may look at Dial in there. So, weve got three guys right there, and well go from that." There will be some mixing and matching in the first preseason game Thursday at Baltimore. A front seven that has long been among the most imposing in the NFL could be missing several familiar faces now that Dorsey is also down. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman is recovering from left knee surgery after suffering a devastating injury in the NFC championship game loss at Seattle, while fellow linebacker Aldon Smith could face a suspension from the league for his off-field legal issues. Yet Ian Williams, who began the 2013 season as starting nose tackle, continues to make progress in his recovery from last years season-ending ankle injury with the hope he could be ready sometime early in the season. He was injured in a Week 2 loss at Seattle on a cut block by Seattle right guard J.R. Sweezy. Williams has undergone multiple surgeries and is currently on the physically unable to perform list following an off-season setback. He went through side-to-side movement drills Sunday. Dial insists playing nose tackle suits him well, given his physical, aggressive nature. "Im just a country boy," Dial said with a grin. At age 12 in Alabama, he started doing chores that helped develop his toughness and strength. "Just being outside moving trees, cutting up trees and being outside moving hay bales," Dial said. "Whatever needed to be done, I was out there doing it. I used to get out there and cut the grass." With the depth the 49ers have in their close-knit defensive line group, everybody is confident San Francisco can adjust and succeed without Dorsey. "Look at how Dorsey got his. Ian was ahead of him and he went down," Demarcus Dobbs said. "The good thing about our room, weve got a lot of talent in our room. Weve got guys that can step up now that Dorseys gone. He had an incredible year last year, he had big things going for him this year. Injuries happen. Make sure he gets better and Ians looking to come back in the mix soon. " Dial works on nose reads daily even while focusing on his defensive end spot. He played some nose tackle in college at Alabama. "Its going to come back to me, its just going to become second nature to me," he said. "Its going to be fun. Weve got a great room of guys who are going to come out here every day and push each other. Were going to be all right on the D-line." NOTES: Dobbs, made an athletic interception on a pass by Colin Kaepernick intended for TE Vernon Davis. "It was a great play call. I just read the quarterback, read the play and the ball went right there in my hands," Dobbs said. "My only job to do was to catch it, and I did that. They especially dont expect defensive linemen to make picks."... The 49ers waived WR Jon Baldwin and claimed WR LDamian Washington off waivers from the Cowboys. Jose Berrios Twins Jersey . -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed left wing Dany Heatley to a one-year deal, returning the 33-year-old unrestricted free agent to the Pacific Division. Marwin Gonzalez Jersey . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. https://www.cheaptwins.com/1732t-marcos-...rsey-twins.html. "Yes, Id like to get them in," Detroits rookie manager said. "Mother Natures going to have a say in that." Sure enough, the Tigers had their game against the Kansas City Royals postponed because of rain on Thursday. Glen Perkins Jersey . -- Crystal Webster avoided elimination at the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trial curling tournament with an 8-5 win over Amber Holland on Thursday. Lewis Thorpe Jersey . Fifth-seeded Cilic gained his fourth title in Zagreb and became the third Croat overall to win at least 10 career titles. Cilic also lifted his career record in Zagreb to 22-4, winning 20 of his last 21 matches at the event.VIGO, Spain -- Athletic Bilbao hung on to draw 0-0 at Celta Vigo to stretch out its fourth-place advantage in the Spanish league on Monday. The Basque club improved to four points better than fifth-place Villarreal in the duel for the last Champions League qualifying place. Celta should have come away with more from the high tempo game. Celta playmaker Rafinha -- the on-loan Barccelona midfielder who has been one of the driving forces to the Galician clubs strong season -- sprayed a shot wide just before stoppage time.dddddddddddd Celta striker Mario Bermejo headed an opportunity from inside the box over outstretched goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz but over goal on the final play of the game. Celta, which also found the post, improved to 11th. ' ' '