The 49ers may not have much mystery left when it comes to De’Zhaun Stribling.
After losing Jauan Jennings in free agency this offseason, Ricky Pearsall for the entire 2026 season, and Brandon Aiyuk amid his standoff with the team, San Francisco has been waiting for somebody in the receiver group to grab hold of a real opportunity. According to Matt Barrows and Vic Tafur of The Athletic, that player could be the second-round rookie.
“The 49ers' top draft pick got an early hook for the second consecutive week, not because he was bad, but because it's clear he's going to have a major role in Week 1,” Tafur and Barrows report.
That assessment comes on the heels of another strong preseason showing from Stribling in the 49ers’ 41-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He caught four of five targets for 46 yards and no touchdowns in Week 2, following up a first preseason game in which he hauled in seven of eight targets for 63 yards.
The early returns have created real buzz around the 23-year-old, who closed his final season at Ole Miss with 55 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns. Through two preseason games, he has done enough to make it look like he’s more than just a developmental piece.
Of course, the regular season is a different test, and NFL defenses will ask questions he hasn’t faced yet. But the reporting from Tafur and Barrows suggests the 49ers are already planning to make him part of the offense right away.
That matters because San Francisco’s receiver room has been unsettled, with Mike Evans expected to lead the group after his big offseason addition. Behind him, there’s still some uncertainty, even with Deebo Samuel and depth options in Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson in the mix.
If Stribling carries this preseason momentum into Week 1, the 49ers could have a receiver group that looks a lot stronger than it did just a few weeks ago.
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49ers Owner Jed York Arrest Case Just Got Even More Damaging
The fallout from Jed Yorks arrest in Ohio continues to linger around the 49ers top executive, adding another unwelcome layer to a story that already had plenty of it. York, the principal owner and CEO of San Francisco, was taken into custody during an operation targeting human trafficking, and the case moved through a series of charges before reaching its final disposition in court.
What began as a prostitution charge was later amended to disorderly conduct, and York also pleaded no contest to possessing criminal tools. He was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $1,150, while $160 in cash seized during the arrest was forfeited to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, leaving a messy legal record attached to one of the NFLs most visible ownership figures. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Have Found A Receiver Worth Watching For Brock Purdy
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Marshs path has also added to the intrigue, with the former Michigan State receiver transferring to Indiana and showing the sort of traits that could make him a real problem for defenses down the line. For a 49ers team always thinking about how to keep Brock Purdy supplied with reliable options, it is the kind of name worth filing away, even if the real draft decision is still far off. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Owner Jed York Now Faces A Serious NFL Question
Jed Yorks legal case in Ohio is now moving into a different kind of scrutiny, one that could matter well beyond the courtroom. The 49ers owner was arrested in East Palestine on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, then later pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and possession of criminal tools, in a resolution that included a short jail sentence and a fine.
Now the attention shifts to the league office, where the NFL may review the matter under its Personal Conduct Policy. For San Francisco, the issue is awkward even if it stays separate from the day-to-day football operation, because it puts one of the leagues most visible ownership figures in a position where discipline remains a real possibility. [Read more 🡒]