49ers WR De’Zhaun Stribling Out 10 Weeks After Surgery

49ers rookie De’Zhaun Stribling underwent ankle surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss about 10 weeks, according to Kyle Shanahan.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 16, 2026, 10:47 AM Updated: 6:21 pm

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 11: De'Zhaun Stribling #7 of the San Francisco 49ers is attended t...

De'Zhaun Stribling #7 of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers will be without one of their most highly touted rookies for much longer than initially expected as injuries continue to limit their roster.

Rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling underwent surgery Wednesday on the left ankle he injured during San Francisco’s season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Stribling is expected to miss about 10 weeks, but the team believes he can return this season.

“We feel good he’ll get back this season,” Shanahan said. “It’ll take some time.”

The update comes after initial reporting suggested a much shorter absence was possible.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier Wednesday that Stribling was being placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing he would miss at least four games. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had previously reported that Stribling suffered a deltoid sprain in his left ankle and that surgery was not initially planned, although it remained a possibility as he sought additional opinions.

Stribling and the 49ers ultimately opted for the procedure.

#49ers rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling, who left the opener early with an injury, is out at least a month with a deltoid sprain in his ankle, sources say.Stribling is still seeking opinions, and while surgery is not currently planned, it is possible. SF will be cautious. pic.twitter.com/adUmcDQS7Q— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2026

Stribling initially injured the ankle during the first half against Los Angeles. He briefly returned to the field before going down again without contact and was eventually carted off. The immediate concern was a potentially serious Achilles injury, but Shanahan said after the game that Stribling’s Achilles was intact.

Given the excitement around Stribling’s preseason and training camp performance, the timing is tough for San Francisco.

The 49ers selected the 23-year-old with the No. 33 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Stribling impressed throughout the summer before catching 11 passes for 109 yards across his first two preseason appearances.

It also seemed like Stribling would get an opportunity immediately. He played a significant role in Week 1 despite a crowded receiver room featuring Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson.

The loss adds another layer to a 49ers receiver room already without Ricky Pearsall for the season. San Francisco will lean on Evans, Samuel and Robinson, while Christian Kirk is eligible to return from injured reserve after Week 4. Shanahan said Wednesday that he believes Kirk remains on track for that timeline, though he wasn’t certain.

Instead of potentially returning after the minimum four-game IR stint, Stribling will now spend most of the first half of his rookie season rehabbing. The good news for San Francisco is that Shanahan still expects to have him back before the year is over.

This story was edited following Wednesday’s later update on De’Zhaun Stribling.