De’Zhaun Stribling is officially on Injured Reserve, a tough blow for the San Francisco 49ers after he got helped off the field with an ankle injury during that wild game against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had already hinted that Stribling would miss around 10 weeks, but moving him to IR confirms he’s out of action for the foreseeable future. We’re talking a few months here, folks. That’s a huge chunk of the season.
Next Man Up: Okoronkwo’s Big Opportunity
This IR move, while a bummer for Stribling, actually opened up a spot for defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo to get promoted to the active roster. Talk about a chance to shine! Okoronkwo wasn’t just sitting around, though. He was already called up from the practice squad for Week 1 against the Rams, stepping up when the team needed him due to other injuries. He played a solid 30 percent of the defensive snaps in that game, showing what he could do. Now, heading into their Week 2 clash against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, it’s looking like Okoronkwo will have a similar role. The 49ers ran a deep rotation of nine defensive linemen in Week 1, so his presence is clearly crucial for keeping that defensive front fresh and aggressive.
Injury Report Looking Cleaner, But Keep an Eye Out
It’s not all bad news on the injury front. The 49ers are actually looking “pretty clean” on the injury report heading into Week 2, which has gotta be a relief for Shanahan and the squad. They had two guys listed as questionable: kicker Eddy Piniero and running back Kaelon Black. But the word is both are expected to play. They even hosted kickers Greg Joseph and Younghoe Koo for tryouts on Saturday, but didn’t end up signing either, which tells you they’re feeling confident about Piniero. And for Black, despite being limited on Thursday and Friday with a groin injury, the fact they didn’t elevate another running back is a strong hint he’ll be ready to go. You love to see those crucial guys shake off the knocks and get back out there.
With Stribling sidelined for the long haul, the 49ers are probably going with five receivers for Week 2, and it’s expected to mirror their Week 1 rotation. That means Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, Khadarel Hodge, and Jacob Cowing will be the main crew. Hodge, by the way, got elevated for Week 1 because Jordan Watkins was out, and then got signed to the active roster earlier this week. Looks like Watkins is gonna be inactive for the second straight week, which is tough for the former fifth-round rookie. So, as San Francisco gets ready to face the Dolphins on Sunday, the focus is definitely on depth stepping up and that core group holding strong until Stribling can make his return in a few months.
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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