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How 49ers plan to move forward without rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling
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- How 49ers plan to move forward without rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling
How 49ers plan to move forward without rookie receiver De'Zhaun Stribling originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA — Rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling had an impressive week of practice in Australia and earned a starting role in his first NFL game.
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After undergoing ankle surgery on Wednesday, Stribling will remain sidelined until at least late November.
"His week in Melbourne, it was awesome, how he practiced," coach Kyle Shanahan said on 49ers Game Plan.
" It was real disappointing to lose him, but I'm glad we're going to get him back eventually."
If you're looking for clues on how the 49ers plan to move forward without Stribling, use the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams as the guide.
"Strib went out pretty early, and that's how it was," Shanahan said, "and that's how I expect it to be until he gets back."
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Mike Evans , Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson caught touchdown passes from Brock Purdy in the 49ers' 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge , whose main contributions come on special teams, were the fourth and fifth wide receivers after Stribling's exit.
Second-year receiver Jordan Watkins , a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was inactive in Week 2. It does not appear as if anything will change Sunday when the 49ers face the Miami Dolphins at Levi's Stadium.
"It won't be any one person," Shanahan said. "We had six receivers up last week, and we'll see what happens this week. But, most likely, it will be five.
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"So it'll be that same group, most likely. And just like you saw last week. We had three different guys score. We had a lot of different guys touch the ball."
The 49ers already lost wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the season after knee surgery in August. Veteran receiver Christian Kirk , on injured reserve with a calf strain, is eligible to return in Week 5.
If Stribling is out for 10 weeks after surgery, it would put him on pace to be available for the Nov. 29 game against the Seattle Seahawks . The 49ers have six regular-season games after that Week 12 matchup against Seattle.
"When he does get back, it's not like he's just going to take over for all those guys," Shanahan said of Stribling. "He's got to get in the mix. But I know he will. He's a really good player."
