San Francisco’s receiving plans took an immediate hit, and the 49ers are now waiting out a long absence for rookie De’Zhaun Stribling.
Stribling is expected to miss at least two months after surgery on his injured left ankle, Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. The rookie hurt the ankle in last week’s season opener against the Los Angeles Rams and will be sidelined for about 10 weeks, according to Shanahan.
The injury arrived at a bad time for a player the 49ers were counting on heavily. Stribling was San Francisco’s top draft pick in April, going 33rd overall as the first selection of the second round.
He had turned heads quickly in training camp and the preseason, then looked poised to carve out a major role right away. That momentum has now been put on hold.
His night against the Rams unraveled in stages. Stribling first injured the ankle early in the game in Australia, then returned before coming up limping again after a route in the second quarter. He left on a cart and was quickly ruled out after playing 21 offensive snaps and seeing no targets.
The 49ers had already been leaning on him more than planned after Ricky Pearsall underwent season-ending knee surgery this summer. Stribling’s preseason production - 11 catches for 109 yards in his first two games - helped lock him into a starting role next to veteran Mike Evans.
Now San Francisco will have to spread those snaps around. Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson, who both caught touchdown passes in the opener, should see more opportunities. Jordan Watkins, inactive in Week 1, is another name likely to get a larger look.
Stribling’s college track record suggested he could handle the workload. He played every game in four of his five seasons and missed 10 games with a hand injury in 2023.
The injury news wasn’t limited to Stribling. The 49ers also placed backup tight end Jake Tonges on injured reserve with a knee injury, meaning he’ll miss at least four weeks. Tonges had 34 catches for 293 yards and five touchdowns last season.
To patch the roster, San Francisco signed tight end Brayden Willis and receiver KhaDarel Hodge from the practice squad.
Willis will slot in as the third tight end behind George Kittle and Luke Ferrell. A seventh-round pick in 2023, he has appeared in 23 career games, mostly on special teams, with 86 offensive snaps and no catches.
Hodge is in his ninth NFL season and has built his career largely on special teams work. He was elevated for the opener and played 12 snaps on special teams.
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