The San Francisco 49ers selected wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Analysts and pundits heavily criticized the selection from the start.
However, something changed during training camp and the preseason. Stribling began showing skeptics that he might be more NFL-ready out of the gate than most anticipated.
Stribling stood out during training camp, displaying reliable hands and proving he could be a dependable target, even as a rookie. He continued to shine during the preseason, and fans became excited about his potential.
Stribling's regular-season debut against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, didn't go as planned. The first-year wideout was examined for an ankle injury in the first quarter but returned to the game. In hindsight, that decision may have been a mistake. Stribling exited again in the second quarter, needed help getting off the field, and was eventually carted to the locker room.
The 49ers ruled Stribling out with an ankle injury, and over the weekend, reports surfaced that the standout rookie suffered a deltoid sprain in his ankle during the season opener and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
Then, on Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the 49ers were placing Stribling on injured reserve, officially ruling him out for at least four games as he recovers.
RELATED Report: 49ers placing rookie De'Zhaun Stribling on injured reserve
Fans might wonder what Stribling's absence means for the 49ers' wide receiver plans, especially after they already lost Ricky Pearsall for the season.
Interestingly, the answer may lie in the 49ers' game plan against the Rams. In a recent feature for The Athletic, insider Matt Barrows pointed out that Stribling played 21 snaps before leaving with his injury. That was the most of any receiver at that point. Surprisingly, Stribling, who was expected to line up primarily in the slot, had only five snaps there. He got most of his snaps on the outside.
This past offseason's prized free-agent addition, Mike Evans, started the game in the slot. In fact, he caught his first three passes from the slot. He wasn't the only player to line up there. Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Kyle Juszczyk, and several others saw multiple snaps in the slot.
"All of which is to say that the 49ers have a lot of options and were already rotating a lot in the slot before Stribling was injured," Barrows wrote.
That says a lot about what the 49ers expect from their receivers in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. Players must learn multiple positions, as versatility is a requirement. As Week 1 showed, Evans won't simply line up on the outside. Samuel, the team's most versatile wideout, was also moved around on offense.
The 49ers can offset the loss of Stribling by doing exactly what they planned to do in the first place—move their playmakers around. And when Stribling eventually returns, he can become part of that rotation again.
For now, with Stribling sidelined, other players will have to seize the opportunity for expanded roles, including Samuel and Robinson.
"I think both players' snap counts will rise as a result of Stribling's injury, but perhaps Robinson's will rise more," Barrows noted.
While all eyes were on Evans in Week 1, Robinson held a slight edge in receiving yards, leading the team with 50 compared to Evans' 49. Both also caught touchdown passes from quarterback Brock Purdy. Barrows noted that Robinson and Purdy have developed a good connection this year.
"Last year was a strange one for Robinson," Barrows added. "He appeared to develop a rapport with Purdy during training camp. But then he had to sit out the first three games due to a suspension, and when he came back, Purdy was injured. Robinson didn't seem to have the same chemistry with Mac Jones (whose rapport was with Kendrick Bourne instead), and it wasn't until Purdy was back and feeling like himself late in the season that Robinson became a real factor."
The 49ers' top trio of wideouts—Robinson, Evans, and Samuel—produced similar numbers against the Rams, and each found the end zone, showing that offensive playmaking can come from multiple places.
San Francisco will reportedly promote KhaDarel Hodge from the practice squad to the active roster, adding depth to the receiving corps while Stribling is out. It's also worth noting that Stribling was not targeted during his 21 snaps against the Rams, yet the 49ers still managed a 27-7 win over their division rival.
Next up for the 49ers is a Week 2 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, who are coming off a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. It will be interesting to see whether that game plan continues to involve the 49ers moving their wideouts around the formation.
Mentioned in this article: Mike Evans, KhaDarel Hodge, Mac Jones, Kyle Juszczyk, Ricky Pearsall, Brock Purdy, Demarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, De'Zhaun Stribling
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