From Newsweek · Matthew Couden · · 1m 20s
49ers lose their rookie receiver a game into the season
San Francisco blew out the Rams in Melbourne, then found out their second-round receiver is out at least a month.
In brief
San Francisco blew out the Rams in Melbourne, then found out their second-round receiver is out at least a month. De'Zhaun Stribling is out at least a month with a deltoid ligament sprain, but the 49ers' offense already proved it has enough weapons without him. Originally reported by Newsweek.
A blowout in Melbourne
The 49ers opened the season by beating division rival Los Angeles 27-7 in Australia. The scoreline said everything was fine. It wasn't.
Second quarter, ankle gone
Rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter and left for evaluation. He never came back.
No stats in his debut
Stribling finished his regular-season debut with zero catches and zero yards. Kyle Shanahan said afterward he had at least avoided an Achilles tear.
At least a month out
Sunday's update put the timeline at a month minimum. ESPN sources called it a deltoid ligament sprain from a non-contact play, with surgery possible but not planned.
Why it stings
Stribling was the No. 33 pick out of Ole Miss, a 6-foot-2 target with back-to-back 800-yard, six-touchdown seasons. Now his first NFL month is gone.
Purdy has plenty left
Brock Purdy threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns to Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel. George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey are still waiting.
The key point
De'Zhaun Stribling is out at least a month with a deltoid ligament sprain, but the 49ers' offense already proved it has enough weapons without him.
