De'Zhaun Stribling is on the field for the 49ers in Week 1 against the Rams, but the rookie wideout has had a quiet opening stretch.
San Francisco took Stribling in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that drew plenty of criticism at the time. The early buzz out of the preseason was more encouraging, with the young receiver turning in a strong summer and giving the impression the 49ers may have nailed the pick.
That said, preseason flashes only go so far. In live action, Stribling still has to show it, and through the early part of this game he hasn’t gotten much of a chance.
UPDATE: Stribling has gone into the blue medical tent, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
You can follow along with our tracker for all of the latest updates on his status.
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UPDATE: Stribling is back to the game after a brief exit.
He is still, however, waiting for his first target.
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UPDATE: Stribling is injured again after returning from an earlier ankle issue.
Follow our tracker right here for the latest updates on his status.
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At the moment, Stribling is active and healthy, and he has logged double-digit snaps across two drives. Even so, he hasn’t been targeted once, while George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans have each already caught a pass.
With so many pass-catchers in the mix, opportunities may be hard to come by for the rookie. The question now is whether he can break through and make his presence felt before the night is over.
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The lack of an official diagnosis only added to the unease for a player who had flashed promise throughout the preseason and looked like someone the 49ers could count on for more than just depth. Some early reports pointed to a hamstring problem, but the real concern is simpler than the label right now - whether a promising opening act has already been interrupted before it ever really got going. [Read more 🡒]
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Rams Fans Face An Unusual Week 1 Problem Against The 49ers
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For Netflix, it is the first time the service will carry a Thursday Night Football game outside of Christmas Day after its renewed deal with the league. Pregame coverage is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with Noah Eagle and Luke Kuechly on the broadcast team, so anyone hoping to catch San Francisco and Los Angeles in the opener will need to find the app before they find the couch. [Read more 🡒]