The NFL preseason is always a wild card, but rookie wideout De’Zhaun Stribling is absolutely tearing it up for San Francisco, putting up numbers that make you do a double-take. This guy, a 2026 second-round pick out of Ole Miss, is officially the breakout star of the preseason, plain and simple.
This Rookie Is Straight Up Balling Out
Seriously, Stribling’s stat line is eye-popping. After pulling in four of his five targets for 46 receiving yards just on Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers, he’s now sitting pretty with 11 catches for 109 yards on only 13 targets total. That’s efficiency, people! What’s even crazier? CBS Sports Research confirmed he’s the first player since at least 2017 to snag 11 combined catches within the first 20 minutes of two consecutive preseason games. That’s not just good for a rookie, that’s historically good. With San Francisco already “snake-bitten by injury” at receiver, it’s a safe bet Stribling’s gonna be a key piece on head coach Kyle Shanahan’s play call sheet early this regular season. This kid looks like a steal and is gonna be a factor right away.
Texans Defense? Even the Backups Are Beasts
And then there’s the Houston Texans defense. We all know their starters were dominant in 2025, ranked No. 1 overall by allowing just 277.2 total yards per game. But here’s the kicker: none of those guys , Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. , were even on the field Thursday night! Yet, the ferocity was still there. These backups absolutely bullied Raiders first overall pick rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the first half. Fourth-round rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz picked him off and took it 80 yards to the house for a pick-six, and then second-round rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald came up with an 11-yard sack. McDonald flashing those pass-rush chops is massive; it should send shivers down the spines of offensive coordinators across the league. Houston needed to shore up their defensive tackle spot, and drafting McDonald, the 2026 NFL Draft’s top DT prospect, looks like a genius move. This defense is deep, and they’re proving it.
So, as Preseason Week 2 wraps up, we’ve got some serious talent emerging. Stribling is making a huge statement for the 49ers, and the Texans’ defense is showing everyone they’re a force, no matter who’s on the field. Keep an eye on these guys as we move forward; they’re definitely going to be fun to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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