The San Francisco 49ers absolutely rolled the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in Week 1, kicking off their season in Australia like certified Super Bowl favorites. But even with that dominant win, there’s a big shadow hanging over their rookie phenom, De’Zhaun Stribling, whose ankle injury is now the biggest storyline as they head back home.
An Ankle Scare That Eased, Then Lingered
Stribling, rocking the #7 jersey, went down early with a non-contact ankle injury. He tried to come back in, which is just gut-wrenching to hear, and re-aggravated it almost immediately, forcing him out of the game for good. It looked really bad at first, the kind of non-contact moment that makes your stomach drop. But Head Coach Kyle Shanahan eased some worries post-game, confirming it was an ankle issue and thankfully, his Achilles was still intact after he got carted off the field. That was a huge relief, honestly, because those non-contact lower body injuries always make you think the worst.
The Rookie’s Immediate Impact and the Long Haul Home
Now, Ian Rapoport dropped some more details on Friday morning, and while the Achilles news is a massive relief, Stribling is still likely to miss some time. The real kicker here? Those crucial tests on his ankle have to wait until *after* the 49ers’ epic 16-hour flight back from Melbourne. Can you even imagine trying to get an accurate diagnosis after that kind of travel, with potential swelling and everything? Rapoport himself called Stribling “one of the more exciting rookies in the NFL this year” and made it clear he was “certainly someone who’s going to be a big part of the 49ers offense.” And he was right! Prior to his injury, Stribling was leading all wide receivers in snaps for the 49ers. He logged 21 snaps out of 26 total offensive plays, outpacing veterans like Mike Evans who had 17 snaps, Deebo Samuel Sr. with 9, and Demarcus Robinson who saw 7 snaps. This rookie was instantly the clear number two option alongside Evans in two-receiver sets, showing just how much trust the coaching staff had in him right out of the gate. He didn’t even get a target in his debut, but his usage speaks volumes about his role.
Who Steps Up While He’s Out?
When Stribling went out, we saw Demarcus Robinson step up big time, taking 41 snaps, far more than Deebo Samuel’s limited 27 snaps out of 65 total plays. The early speculation is it could be a high-ankle sprain, which would definitely sideline him for a few weeks. But hey, at least it’s not the dreaded Achilles, right? That’s the silver lining here, even if it means missing some early season action.
So, the 49ers are sitting pretty at 1-0, but they’re flying home with a huge question mark hanging over a rookie who was already making a massive impact from the jump. Every game matters, especially early in the season, and losing a key offensive piece stings. You have to wonder how quickly they can get those tests done once they land and how long Stribling will actually be sidelined. They’re definitely going to miss that high-energy, high-usage presence in the receiving corps while he’s out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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