# 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.
- Title: 49ers lose their rookie receiver a game into the season
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: nfl, 49ers, injuries, de'zhaun stribling, wide receivers, lose, rookie, receiver, game, season, Newsweek
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/sports/nfl/49ers-get-crushing-injury-news-on-top-offensive-star-after-rams-opener-12436601
- Author: Matthew Couden
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nfl, 49ers, injuries, de'zhaun stribling, wide receivers
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.