Brock Purdy left the 49ers’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a clearer picture of one rookie who has been turning heads.
D'Shaun Stribling, a second-round pick by San Francisco in the NFL Draft, has carried his momentum from training camp into the preseason, and Purdy addressed the rookie’s rise after the game, according to 49ers beat writer David Lombardi. In a camp and preseason stretch where the 49ers have already seen plenty from him, Stribling keeps forcing his way into the conversation.
That matters in a big way for a San Francisco receiver room that has been shaped by injuries over the last season. The offseason initially pointed toward a veteran-heavy setup after the 49ers signed Mike Evans and then added Christian Kirk. For a while, those moves made it look like Purdy’s top options were already settled.
That picture has shifted.
Kirk is now in danger of losing his job, and Stribling has a real opening to take that role. He backed it up against the Chargers, finishing with four catches on five targets for 46 yards. The performance showed off exactly what has stood out so far: reliable hands and a knack for finding space.
Evans and Kirk both sat out, but Stribling was on the field and made the most of the chance.
For a 49ers team that has dealt with so many injuries, the rookie could become a much-needed bright spot. If he keeps building on what he has shown, Purdy would have another legitimate option and more ways to distribute the ball.
Last season, the Niners targeted Christian McCaffrey more than any receiver in the NFL, even though he is a running back. If Stribling really emerges, that could ease some of that burden and give San Francisco a different kind of balance on offense.
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