San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling exited his regular-season debut against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, with a left ankle injury, though team doctors confirmed his Achilles tendon remained intact following examinations.
De’Zhaun Stribling Exits Debut After Non-Contact Injury
The San Francisco 49ers saw a promising early development turn concerning during their 27-7 regular-season opening win against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. De’Zhaun Stribling, the team’s second-round pick and first draft selection, went down midway through the second quarter while running an intermediate route across the middle of the field.
Medical staff subsequently carted the rookie wide receiver into the locker room. Stribling had already dealt with hamstring tightness and a shoulder injury in training camp, and he had returned to the game after suffering an ankle injury in the first quarter when he was announced as questionable to return.
Coach Kyle Shanahan Confirms Achilles Is Intact
Social media speculation from several doctors during the broadcast suggested a potential Achilles tear, prompting immediate concern among fans and analysts.
“They checked his Achilles. They said that was intact,” Shanahan said. “But they’re not exactly sure of the magnitude of the ankle injury. They’re not sure.”
Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers will await the results of further testing to see how much time Stribling will miss to determine the exact severity of the ankle damage and the expected recovery timeline.
Rookie Hype and Preseason Production Preceded Injury
The injury halts momentum for a player who entered the regular season with mounting expectations. Selected with the first pick of the second round (No. 33 overall) in this year’s draft out of Ole Miss—where he caught 55 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games according to Heavy—Stribling faced initial skepticism from experts who didn’t rank him ahead of receivers who went earlier. He quickly quieted doubters during training camp and preseason play by hauling in 11 of 13 targets for 109 yards across two games.
During the preseason win against the Chargers Thursday night, he had three catches that stood out. Just trying to do my part to help the whole offense roll,
Stribling said to Steve Wyche after the game.
Quarterback Brock Purdy established a strong rapport with the rookie during the preseason, praising his reliability and professional mindset via NBC Sports Bay Area.
“He’s a guy that’s consistent, smart, and shows that he’s a guy that you can trust,” Purdy said via NBC Sports Bay Area. “That first drive, to go out there and be able to connect with him, felt really good; him making some tough catches with guys on him and things like that. So for me, that’s huge. I know he’s going to continue to get better.”
Brock Purdy, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Others, such as tight end George Kittle, praised the rookie’s attitude and work ethic as well. He's got the right mindset off the rip,
Kittle said in an NFL Radio interview earlier in the week. Zero ego. He asks questions—like, 'Hey, what can I do on this?'
Kittle elaborated that the advice he gives new players is to be a sponge and absorb information from the veterans, something Stribling has been doing quite a bit of.
Stribling’s immediate integration into the offense became essential following injuries to wideout Ricky Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick who is out for the season with a knee injury, alongside separate ailments affecting Christian Kirk and others. Despite dealing with multiple injuries this summer, Stribling appeared ready for the added responsibility, though he wasn’t targeted before exiting his NFL debut.
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The 49ers entered the 2026 campaign with a new-look wide receiver room, with the headliner being six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans, who was signed to a three-year contract in free agency alongside others like Demarcus Robinson.
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