The San Francisco 49ers snagged a win over the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, this past Thursday, but it came with a hefty price tag. Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is reportedly out for at least a month with an ankle injury. Yeah, you read that right, a *month*. Losing any player for that long is a blow, but a promising young guy like Stribling? That stings.
Stribling’s Injury: The Details
Reports from Ian Rapoport say Stribling is dealing with a deltoid sprain. He’s still consulting doctors, but the good news, if there is any, is that surgery isn’t currently expected. Still, “at least a month” makes him a serious candidate for injured reserve. This guy was the first pick of the second round in this year’s draft, a rookie the Niners were clearly high on. He even started against the Rams, getting 21 snaps in before his day ended early. You gotta feel for the kid. Just getting his feet wet and bam, sideline for a long stretch.
What This Means For the Niners’ Receiving Corps
So, with Stribling out, who’s stepping up for the 49ers? Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Demarcus Robinson are the top three wideouts now. Interestingly, all three of those guys caught touchdowns from Brock Purdy in Thursday’s win against the Rams. That’s a solid performance from the remaining crew, no doubt. But losing that youthful energy and potential from a second-round pick, especially this early in the season, it forces the vets to carry a heavier load. Can they keep that kind of production going? We’ll see. The NFL season is a marathon, and depth always gets tested.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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