The San Francisco 49ers cruised to a dominant 35-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon to move to 2-0, but the win came at a steep cost for their receiving corps. Veteran wideout Demarcus Robinson left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury, adding another name to an already crowded training room.
The injury occurred midway through the second quarter on a low pass over the middle from Brock Purdy. Robinson made a sharp adjustment to haul in the 20-yard completion, but came up limping and hopping in visible discomfort after rolling his right ankle untouched. Though he managed to walk off the field under his own power, he was quickly carted back to the locker room and officially ruled out shortly after halftime.
Following the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Robinson is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain, an injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks and makes him a strong candidate for Injured Reserve.
A Growing List of Absence in the Receiver Room
Robinson's injury comes at a brutal time for San Francisco's pass catching depth. The 31-year-old veteran had stepped into an expanded role early this season, Robison had already caught two passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 win against the Rams in Melbourne and led the team with 35 receiving yards on three catches Sunday before getting hurt.
His injury leaves the 49ers stretched paper-thin behind Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel:
- Ricky Pearsall was lost for the 2026 season due to knee surgery in August.
- Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling underwent surgery last week for a deltoid ligament sprain in his ankle and is out for ~10 weeks on IR.
- Christian Kirk remains on Injured Reserve while rehabbing a calf injury.
To make matters more tense late in the game, Evans briefly exited with a hip issue, though Shanahan noted post-game that Evans' injury is minor and not expected to be serious.
Brock Purdy and the Offense Keep Rolling
Despite the attrition out wide, Brock Purdy showed no signs of slowing down. The 49ers quarterback put on an absolute masterclass, completing 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown.
Purdy was able to lean heavily on tight end George Kittle, who led the team with 80 receiving yards and a touchdown, alongside Christian McCaffrey, who added 43 receiving yards to go along with his two rushing touchdowns. Evans also provided 54 yards on three catches before his late exit.
What’s Next for the 49ers?
At 2-0, San Francisco has positioned itself well atop the NFC West standings. However, with Robinson facing a stint on the shelf, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan will likely need to explore roster additions to bolster depth around Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, and rookie Jacob Cowing.
