De'Zhaun Stribling shines with Purdy in 49ers preseason
San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling — searchable as deaposzhaun stribling — continues an impressive preseason after earning Brock Purdy's trust in joint practice and leading the team with seven catches against the Tennessee Titans. With Ricky Pearsall out for the season, the Day 2 pick is quickly becoming a necessity.
Selected No. 33 overall, Stribling has moved from intriguing draft pick to early must-watch option in Santa Clara. Fans tracking how and where to follow 49ers preseason action can start with Streaming & TV Alerts on BlasterPost.
Key Takeaways
- Stribling led San Francisco with seven receptions for 63 yards in the preseason opener vs. Tennessee at Levi's Stadium.
- He is the first rookie in the past decade with seven or more catches in the first half of his team's first preseason game, per ESPN Research.
- Purdy publicly praised the rookie's football IQ and said he already has "a lot of trust" in him after a highlight joint-practice connection.
- A depleted WR room, including Pearsall's season-ending knee surgery, has accelerated Stribling's path to a meaningful role.
- Coach Kyle Shanahan liked his hands and physical play after a shaky first drive, and wants more healthy days before Week 1.
How did De'Zhaun Stribling perform against the Titans?
In the 49ers' preseason opener at Levi's Stadium, Stribling was the game's leading receiver with seven catches for 63 yards, the team confirmed. ESPN also noted he finished with seven receptions and became the first rookie in 10 years to pile up seven or more grabs in the first half of a club's first preseason game.
Shanahan said the debut "seemed good," acknowledging a rough first drive before Stribling settled in over roughly three more series. "It seemed like he executed all the stuff that went to him, and I liked how his hands looked out there and played physical," Shanahan said, according to ESPN.
Why does Brock Purdy already trust Stribling?
Late in a joint practice against the Titans, Purdy fired a ball into traffic over the middle. Stribling burst through, caught it in stride, and raced for what would have been a long touchdown — a throw that underscored how far the rookie has come through 11 camp practices.
"He's a really smart dude," Purdy said. "He gets the game of football... Strib has been a guy that has come in and has shown he understands it... right now I have a lot of trust in him." Backup Mac Jones nicknamed him the "Flyin' Hawaiian" for his second gear when the ball is in the air.
Can the 49ers depend on him in the regular season?
San Francisco traded down twice before taking Stribling at No. 33, valuing a 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. Receivers coach Leonard Hankerson called the blend of size, strength, and speed rare. A brief three-day stretch of hamstring tightness has been his main camp hiccup so far.
Mike Evans is lined up as the "X," while Hankerson currently projects Stribling more toward the "F" (slot) role once filled by Jauan Jennings, with a possible future look at "Z" after Pearsall's injury. Of 15 routes in the Titans game, ESPN charted 10 from the slot and five outside.
Shanahan still wants more practice days before trusting any rookie in Week 1. "I think each day he's got better and better," he said. "Hopefully he doesn't have any injuries, so he can continue getting those days in for Week 1, and if he does, feel real confident about him."