Former Ole Miss wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling’s rookie season got off to a jolt in San Francisco, and now the 49ers are bracing for a lengthy absence.
The first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had turned heads throughout training camp and even worked his way onto the fantasy radar despite being in a crowded receiver room with Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. But his season opener ended early after a non-contact injury, and the latest update gives the 49ers a clearer picture of what comes next.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Stribling will be sidelined “at least a month” because of a deltoid sprain in his ankle. Rapoport added that surgery is not currently part of the plan, though it remains a possibility as Stribling continues seeking opinions. The 49ers, for their part, are expected to be cautious.
That’s a relief compared with the immediate fear from fans, who worried the rookie could be done for the year after going down without contact. For now, that worst-case scenario does not appear to be the expectation.
Fantasy Points injury analyst Jeff Mueller offered a more detailed read on the injury and said the outlook could stretch beyond the initial one-month estimate. Mueller wrote, “Sounds like close to a Grade 3 deltoid ligament sprain.
Recovery from surgery could be 5-6 months so at this stage it makes sense to rehab first to see if it improves,” and added, “Plenty of time to get surgery later & be ready by May/June 2027 worst case scenario. He’ll likely be put on IR and timetable is “a month”, but this could easily extend to ~2 months out.”
For now, the 49ers are waiting on more clarity, and Stribling’s first NFL season is already on pause.
In Other News...
LSU Heads Into A Lane Kiffin Showdown With Extra Emotion
Week 3 in Oxford already had enough juice on its own, and now Ole Miss is getting a nationally televised matchup with LSU that comes with an extra layer of old rivalry baggage. Lane Kiffins return to the other sideline is the obvious headline, but for the Rebels, the conversation inside the building still centers on the game itself and the chance to handle a big stage at home.
Trinidad Chambliss said the setup feels "weird," which is about as candid a description as you could expect from a quarterback trying to keep the focus where it belongs. Ole Miss has plenty of reasons to be locked in with the attention surrounding LSU and Kiffin, but Chambliss made it clear the Rebels are treating it like football first, storyline second. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Added More Tension To LSU's Return To Oxford
LSUs 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech still came with enough rough edges to keep the focus on what comes next, and that matters with Ole Miss waiting in Oxford. Sam Leavitts three interceptions were part of a sloppy stretch that kept the Tigers from looking fully polished, even in a lopsided result, and the conversation around the game quickly turned from the score to how well it might sharpen LSU before a tougher SEC test.
Lane Kiffin, now back on the other side of this rivalry, has only added to the intrigue around the return trip to Oxford. He left Ole Miss before the College Football Playoff, with Pete Golding taking over and guiding the Rebels through CFP wins before the run ended in the semifinals, so this matchup already carries some built-in edge. With LSU showing cracks at an awkward time and Kiffin back in the mix, the game has picked up another layer of tension before the teams even kick off. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Fans Will Have Plenty To Say About This LSU Projection
Week 3 already has the feel of a measuring-stick game in the SEC, with No. 7 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss both unbeaten after 2-0 starts and recent wins over ACC opponents. The matchup carries extra juice because Lane Kiffin is on the LSU sideline, and the kind of game that gets the attention of both fan bases is now drawing plenty of national interest as well.
The numbers have only added to the anticipation. The betting market has LSU favored by 2.5 points with the total set at 58.5, and ESPNs SP+ is also leaning toward the Tigers in what looks like a tight, high-level showdown. For Ole Miss supporters, that kind of projection will only sharpen the debate heading into a game that could shape the SEC conversation early. [Read more 🡒]