49ers rookie Stribling out 1 month with ankle sprain — SkimNews
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- De'Zhaun Stribling suffered a deltoid ligament sprain in his left ankle on a noncontact play in the second quarter of San Francisco's 27-7 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, and will miss at least one month, per sources.
- Stribling might ultimately need surgery, though his recovery plan remained uncertain as of Sunday morning.
- Kyle Shanahan said after the game that Stribling avoided an Achilles tear but noted the team needed further tests to determine a specific diagnosis.
- San Francisco selected Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick — the first selection of the second round — in this year's draft after a strong Ole Miss career.
- Stribling had a strong training camp and had earned a significant role in the 49ers' offense entering the season.
Why it matters: Stribling was a Day 1 contributor San Francisco drafted 33rd overall, so a month-plus absence immediately forces the 49ers to reshuffle their receiver depth chart behind their established pass-catchers. The open question of whether surgery is needed means the timeline could extend beyond one month, compounding the impact on a rookie who had already earned a significant offensive role.
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