He entered the blue tent.
His return was deemed questionable.
Not too long after, he was back on the field.
However, the San Francisco 49ers are now set to be without De’Zhaun Stribling for a significant period. Reports suggest that he could be out for 4-6 weeks due to a deltoid ligament sprain in his left ankle, with surgery being a possibility if it doesn’t heal on its own.
The 33rd overall pick, who had created quite a buzz during the preseason, barely made it through 30 minutes of his NFL debut before being carted off the field — a victim of the team’s ongoing injury woes.
You have to wonder, was it just a freak occurrence that his leg went out while he was making a route, leading him to fall awkwardly in the second quarter, especially since he had just been checked for a prior issue with that same ankle? Or could there be a larger, more systemic issue at play?
Sometimes, the evidence shouts out loud.
Kyle Shanahan even awarded a game ball from their Week 1 win over the Rams to the training staff for helping the team adjust to the 17-hour time difference in Australia. When Shanahan speaks on Wednesday before the team’s first practice back, it’s likely he’ll be pressed on how the training staff played a role in losing their promising rookie.
It’s possible that the issue that prompted Stribling to seek attention in that blue tent had nothing to do with the current injury potentially leading to an injured reserve stint. But then again, that sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?
Stribling limped off the field after an early run in the first quarter, trying to minimize weight on that troublesome left ankle. He visited the injury tent, and before the quarter ended, he was labeled questionable for a return.
Yet, he was back in the game right at the start of the second quarter. Just a few plays later, he crumpled to the ground, clutching the leg that had been deemed fit by the trainers just moments before. After playing 21 snaps without catching a single pass, Stribling now faces weeks or maybe even months of rehab before he can try for an elusive first NFL reception.
If only this weren’t a familiar script for the team.
The last wide receiver taken by the 49ers in the early draft rounds is also on injured reserve and is expected to miss the entirety of this season due to an injury sustained in Week 3 last year.
Ricky Pearsall delayed surgery after injuring his PCL and returned roughly six weeks later, but his knee never felt right, leading to a season-ending operation at the beginning of training camp.
Brock Purdy, on the other hand, seemed to bounce back after an offseason recovery, but one has to wonder if he should have gotten that time earlier during the season for his turf toe injury suffered in Week 1. Purdy had a fantastic start this season against the Rams, but last season’s struggles were rough, especially since he played through injury.
With so many injuries affecting the team, some fans have speculated that perhaps an electrical substation near their training facility could be the cause. Of course, there’s no solid proof for that theory.
What is concerning, however, is the training staff led by Dustin Perry, who has been in the role for a decade. Players have rated them poorly, giving the group a C- grade in the latest NFL Players Association report card. This rating comes from a significant survey of 1,759 players assessing their teams in various categories.
Overall, the 49ers ranked 14th, but the training staff stunningly came in last place at 32nd.
The apparent issues were significant enough for the 49ers to investigate the substation theory (which they found no evidence for but didn’t disclose how they conducted their research) and subsequently hire three new physical therapists while investing $9 million in new rehabilitation equipment. Even the training room garnered a C- grade.
General manager John Lynch proudly announced these upgrades last spring, and players seemed to appreciate the new facilities during training camp. But it appears these changes haven’t resolved the ongoing injury problems for the 49ers.
