Man, talk about a rollercoaster! The San Francisco 49ers’ notoriously awful injury luck looked like it was striking again with rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling getting carted off the field, but head coach Kyle Shanahan dropped an update that’s got everyone doing a double take: Stribling’s Achilles is still intact. After an initial scare that looked season-ending, that’s a huge sigh of relief for a squad that consistently tops the league in adjusted games lost due to injuries.
The scene itself was brutal, hitting that familiar, frustrating note for the Niners. Stribling left the game early, came back, and then was carted off again after a non-contact injury where he couldn’t put any pressure on his left leg. They immediately ruled him out, and let’s be real, that’s never a good sign. He only managed 21 snaps before it all went down. Just when their receiver corps looked promising a month ago, now they’re down two of their top three targets with Ricky Pearsall already out for the season and Stribling’s status up in the air. Jacob Cowing and Deebo Samuel were relied on heavily in his absence, and you can bet Demarcus Robinson will see more action going forward.
More Injury Woes Hit the Bay
But wait, there’s more. Tight end Jake Tonges also got carted off with a lower leg injury. Shanahan later confirmed Tonges has an MCL injury, and the coach didn’t sugarcoat it, saying the injury “wasn’t good.” While they’re still waiting on more tests, it sure doesn’t sound like he’s making a quick return. Luke Farrell and Kyle Juszczyk stepped up to fill the void at tight end. It’s just a reminder that while Stribling might have dodged the absolute worst-case scenario with his ankle injury and intact Achilles, the injury bug is still biting hard down south. This team has consistently struggled with keeping guys on the field, and 2026 is clearly no different.
While our rivals down south are left wondering about test results and recovery timelines, we here in the Emerald City got something to cheer about today. The Seahawks pulled off a gritty win at Lumen Field, taking down the New England Patriots 13-10. It’s always good to start the season with a W, especially when it gives us something to smile about amidst all the injury updates from around the league. Keep that energy high, 12s, we’re just getting started!
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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