De’Zhaun Stribling’s new No. 7 jersey has already come with an awkward layer of baggage, and the 49ers rookie didn’t exactly sidestep it when reporters asked him about the switch from No. 15.
The number drew attention because it matched the jersey tied to a years-long alleged dating scam that went viral. A Sept. 2 report by Complex said Daejon Love allegedly posed as a 49ers player wearing No. 7 and conned women out of $1.3 million. Stribling was asked whether he had gotten any texts about the number change in connection with that case, and he answered, "It's hilarious, it's kinda crazy, but it's pretty cool at the same time," Stribling said.
That reaction is a lot lighter than the reality for the women reportedly caught up in the scheme, some of whom allegedly took out loans to invest in the fake opportunity. The situation has also sparked plenty of online jokes about how a quick search could have exposed the alleged fraudster’s identity.
For Stribling, though, the focus now shifts back to football and a first regular-season test that arrives fast. The San Francisco receiver is expected to be available against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, though his preseason ended with a concern worth watching.
According to David Lombardi of SFStandard via ESPN, Stribling missed Week 3 of the preseason because of a shoulder injury. It’s not clear whether the team held him out simply as a precaution or if there’s a larger issue.
Before that setback, Stribling flashed enough to turn heads. He played in two preseason games and finished among the 49ers’ top two receivers in yardage in games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.
That kind of production gives the rookie a shot to make a quick impression once the games start counting, but his health is now the question. With injuries already piling up around the 49ers offense this offseason and preseason, Kyle Shanahan has every reason to hope Stribling’s shoulder heals quickly.
In Other News...
49ers Now Face A Bigger Jed York Problem Than The Arrest
Jed Yorks arrest in Ohio may have grabbed the headlines, but inside the 49ers building the more immediate issue is how the team keeps moving with its principal owner operating at a reduced level. General manager John Lynch said the club is preparing for any possible league discipline while also adjusting to a leadership structure that has shifted more of the day-to-day football load toward executive Al Guido, even as the team insists the locker room and football operations have not been disrupted.
For San Francisco, the test is bigger than the legal fallout itself because ownership presence matters during a season, especially for a franchise that has spent years trying to keep its football side steady. The 49ers have tried to project calm publicly, but Yorks absence from the usual rhythm of the operation leaves a different kind of question hanging over the organization: not what happened in Ohio, but how long the team can keep functioning as if nothing has changed. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Australia Plan Could Create A Huge Rams Debate
The NFLs first regular-season game in Australia has already created a contrast in approach, with the Rams and 49ers set to meet in Melbourne on Sept. 10. Los Angeles plans a quick turnaround, arriving the day before the game and heading out right after, while San Francisco is taking a more measured route by getting there several days early to deal with the time change.
That difference has opened the door to an interesting travel debate, especially with neurologist W. Christopher Winter saying the Rams shorter stay may actually be the better way to handle jet lag. For the 49ers, the bigger question is whether the extra days on the ground will help them settle in overseas or end up making the trip feel longer than it needs to be. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Have A Tempting O-Line Possibility They May Not Afford
The 49ers search for stability at left guard has made Quenton Nelson look like the kind of rare upgrade that would instantly change the conversation up front. The Indianapolis Colts still have not reached an extension with the three-time All-Pro, and the talks are currently stagnant, which is enough to get any team with an opening on the interior offensive line at least thinking about a move.
San Francisco is one of the clubs that naturally comes up in that discussion because the spot remains a weakness, but the fit is not so simple. Salary cap constraints and the teams other priorities make a deal for Nelson look unlikely right now, even if the talent level would be hard to ignore for a 49ers front office that knows how valuable dominant play inside can be. [Read more 🡒]