The San Francisco 49ers have suffered a significant injury blow ahead of their NFL Week 2 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling underwent ankle surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss approximately 10 weeks, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced.
Stribling facing lengthy absence
Stribling suffered the injury during San Francisco’s Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. He initially returned to the game after being evaluated, but later went down again while running a route and had to be helped off the field.
The injury was identified as a sprain to the deltoid ligament in Stribling’s left ankle. The rookie sought multiple medical opinions before ultimately deciding that surgery was the best option.
Shanahan said Stribling will miss “close to 10 weeks” and will be placed on injured reserve. The 49ers remain hopeful that their second-round pick can return later this season.
The recovery timeline could ultimately be longer, however. The San Francisco Chronicle spoke with two ankle surgeons who estimated that a procedure like Stribling’s could require three to four months of recovery.
Another blow to the receiving corps
The timing is particularly difficult for San Francisco because Stribling was expected to play a significant role as a rookie. The 49ers selected him No. 33 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he impressed during training camp and the preseason.
Stribling’s injury also adds to an already depleted wide receiver group. Ricky Pearsall is out for the season with a knee injury, while veteran Christian Kirk is currently on injured reserve with a calf injury.
San Francisco will now have to lean more heavily on Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson. Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing could also see increased opportunities, while the 49ers promoted veteran KhaDarel Hodge from the practice squad.
Shanahan, however, believes the team has enough depth to survive the setback, saying the 49ers have “as good of depth as anyone in the league.”
49ers must move forward without rookie
Stribling played 21 offensive snaps in his NFL debut but did not record a catch or receive a target before leaving the game.
Now, the 49ers will have to move forward without one of their most highly regarded young offensive players. San Francisco hosts Miami in Week 2, giving the veteran receivers an immediate opportunity to take on larger roles.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, losing a second-round rookie for roughly 10 weeks is a significant early-season setback. The 49ers will hope Stribling’s recovery progresses well enough for him to return later in the season and contribute during the stretch run.
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