49ers Rookie Expected to Miss at Least a Month With Ankle Injury

The San Francisco 49ers simply have the worst injury luck in the NFL, and they’re already dealing with another significant setback just one game into the 2026 season.

Promising rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling exited San Francisco’s season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night with a non-contact ankle injury. The initial scene was concerning, especially after Stribling was unable to put weight on his left leg and had to be carted off the field.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario has been avoided.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Stribling has been diagnosed with a deltoid sprain in his ankle and is expected to miss at least a month. His Achilles is intact, which is encouraging after that was one of the immediate fears following the injury. Stribling is still seeking additional opinions, and while surgery isn’t currently planned, it remains a possibility.

Even with the relatively positive diagnosis, this is still a significant blow to a 49ers receiving corps that’s already dealing with injuries.

Stribling was the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and quickly emerged as one of San Francisco’s biggest standouts throughout training camp and the preseason. He caught 11 passes for 109 yards on 13 preseason targets and looked ready to play a meaningful role immediately for a team with championship aspirations.

That role became even more important after Ricky Pearsall was lost for the season with a knee injury and Christian Kirk opened the year on injured reserve because of a calf issue.

For at least the next month, San Francisco will have to lean heavily on Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson at receiver. That trio delivered in the opener, combining for all three of Brock Purdy’s touchdown passes in the 49ers’ dominant 27-7 win over the division-rival Rams.

That makes Sunday’s update something of a mixed bag for San Francisco.

Considering how Stribling’s injury looked in real time, avoiding an Achilles tear or another obvious season-ending injury is a major relief. At the same time, losing one of the team’s most promising young offensive players for several weeks is hardly insignificant, especially with the receiver room already depleted.

The priority now is making sure Stribling gets fully healthy before returning rather than rushing him back into the lineup. San Francisco has enough veteran talent to survive the short term, but the 49ers drafted Stribling with the expectation that he could become an important piece of this offense quickly.

There’s still plenty of time for Stribling to make an impact once he returns. For now, though, the 49ers are once again being forced to test their depth much earlier than they would have hoped.