49ers Wideout Gets High Praise Amidst Injury-Hit Roster

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The San Francisco 49ers have once again been hit by the injury bug.

Whilst the team has perennially been one of the most injury-prone franchises over the past decade, rarely have the problems started to compound so early in training camp.

And at wide receiver the issues have been particularly pronounced. New free agent addition and six-time Pro Bowler Mike Evans has missed the past five practices with a quad strain before returning for Tuesday's joint practice with the Tennessee Titans, whilst 2024 first round pick Ricky Pearsall will miss the entire 2026 season as he recovers from PCL surgery from a tear that initially occurred in Week 4 of 2025.

But the shining light for the 49ers is that their first selection in April's draft, De'Zhaun Stribling, has been stepping up to the plate, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Cohn.

Despite many questioning whether the selection of Stribling with the 33rd overall pick may have been a reach, Cohn claims that the rookie has clearly been the team's best wideout in camp so far.

"[Stribling] already is the best wide receiver on the team. Full stop. He's the only wide receiver on the roster who will actually frighten opposing defenses this year. Today, he caught a 40-yard bomb from Brock Purdy while running a deep crossing route against Marques Sigle. No other wide receiver on the team could do that right now." Cohn wrote on Aug. 10.

With Evans and Pearsall having missed much of the action, Stribling entered San Francisco's first team on the depth chart alongside veterans Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk, both of whom – whilst still capable of making plays – are past their respective primes.

Fellow, albeit lower profile vets, Demarcus Robinson and Trenton Irwin, have also performed well in their teammates' absences.

Now that Evans has returned, the receiving corps certainly has a more encouraging feel to it. Him, alongside the ascending Stribling and the team's many valuable veteran contributors should have the room looking at the very least, competent.

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