The San Francisco 49ers have another injury concern following their victory over the Los Angeles Rams after rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling left the game with a left ankle injury.
Stribling, selected by San Francisco with the 33rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, exited during the second quarter after suffering the injury while running a route. He was unable to put normal weight on the leg and had to leave the field.
A concerning injury
The rookie had already dealt with an ankle issue earlier in the game and briefly returned to action. However, he was later hurt again and could not continue.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Stribling's Achilles tendon was intact, which was encouraging given the initial concern surrounding the injury. The full extent of the ankle problem has not yet been determined.
Why Stribling matters
The injury is particularly significant because Stribling entered the season with high expectations after being selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
If he misses time, players such as Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson could be asked to take on larger roles in an offense that opened the season with a dominant performance against the Rams.
The 49ers will now wait for further medical evaluation to determine how long Stribling could be sidelined.