De’Zhaun Stribling wasted zero time making a name for himself, pulling in the first pass of the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans and immediately showing he’s a go-to guy. This rookie wide receiver absolutely shined, especially when the pressure was on, and that hype train is officially rolling, folks.
Stribling’s Third-Down Heroics Were No Joke
Seriously, this kid looked like a seasoned pro out there. Stribling was a menace on third downs, snagging three crucial catches across three offensive drives. Remember that 32-yard back-shoulder bomb he hauled in up high? Pure clutch, converting a third down like it was nothing. Then he pulled off an 11-yard reception, turning it into a first down with several yards after catch that just screamed “future star.” Sure, maybe he stepped out of bounds on one, and was downed a yard shy on another, but come on, it’s preseason! The potential is off the charts, and he definitely outshined Tennessee’s Carnell Tate. This dude is making an instant impact and it’s something to watch.
Rourke’s Return Cut Short by a Nasty Hit
While Stribling was lighting it up, the story took a rough turn for quarterback Kurtis Rourke. It was his first game action in 601 days, and he looked sharp before the hit, completing 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards and adding 14 yards on three carries. But midway through the second quarter, Rourke got absolutely whacked by two defenders on a three-yard scramble. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the worst, saying Rourke was “struggling to breathe” and had “ribs,” sending him to the hospital. Shanahan said the initial X-rays didn’t show anything broken, but they’re waiting for more info. That’s a gut punch for a guy trying to get back on the field. On the defensive side, rookie Halton continued to show that nasty streak from training camp, almost bagging a sack against Titans starters Peter Skoronski and Dan Moore Jr. (only a holding penalty saved them), and then he just threw an offensive lineman aside to wrap up a running back on the very next snap.
What’s next for Stribling is clear: keep building on that momentum. He’s got everyone’s attention. For Rourke, though, it’s all about tomorrow’s update on those ribs. Here’s hoping it’s nothing too serious, because nobody wants to see a comeback story derailed so fast.
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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