49ers get bad news on injured wide receiver

Story by

Story by
49ers get bad news on injured wide receiver

Matt Larter · The Big Lead

Wed, Oct 21, 2026 ·

3 min read

Stribling faces lengthy recovery after surgery

Aug 20, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'zhaun Stribling (15) attempts to catch a pass over Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Deane Leonard (33) during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Stribling was placed on injured reserve in mid-September after suffering a non-contact ankle injury during San Francisco's Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

The rookie played just 21 snaps before the injury forced him out of action. Further examination revealed a deltoid sprain in his left ankle, and he subsequently underwent surgery to address the problem.

Although the 49ers have not given up hope of seeing Stribling return later in the season, his inability to walk on the injured foot indicates that his recovery remains a significant concern.

Missing at least until Week 12 would sideline the rookie for a substantial portion of the regular season, potentially limiting his opportunities to contribute during San Francisco's playoff push.

49ers continue battling receiving corps injuries

Aug 13, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver De'zhaun Stribling (15) sprints from the line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Stribling's absence is particularly concerning because San Francisco is also dealing with injuries to several other wide receivers, including DeMarcus Robinson, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk. Mike Evans is also expected to miss some time while dealing with an Achilles injury.

The mounting injuries could put additional pressure on the 49ers' remaining healthy receivers as the team navigates the middle portion of its schedule.

Despite those setbacks, San Francisco has enjoyed an outstanding start to the campaign. The 49ers enter Week 7 with an unbeaten 6-0 record, establishing themselves as one of the NFL's early contenders.

Their next challenge comes Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, who hold a 2-4 record.

While Stribling's extended absence is an unfortunate development, San Francisco will look to maintain its perfect start and demonstrate that its offensive depth can withstand the ongoing injury problems.

With a playoff push potentially ahead, the 49ers will hope their injured receivers can return in time to make an impact later in the season.