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49ers rely on veterans after Stribling, Pearsall injuries

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 15, 2026, 10:45 PM

Last updated Sep 15, 2026

49ers rely on veterans after Stribling, Pearsall injuries

Summary

The San Francisco 49ers are grappling with injuries to wide receivers De'Zhaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall. Stribling suffered a deltoid sprain in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, limiting his contributions just as the team needed to bolster their receiving corps. With a roster heavy on veteran players aged 30 and above, the 49ers must now depend on Mike Evans, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel to step up. The coaching staff is considering using more running backs to compensate for the receiving depth issues as they navigate the upcoming weeks without Stribling and Pearsall, who is out for the season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to be out for weeks due to injury.
•Ricky Pearsall will miss the entire season with a knee injury.
•The 49ers had 68.9% of offensive yards from players aged 30 and older in Week 1.
•San Francisco aims to incorporate more running backs to balance the offense.
•Next up, the 49ers will face challenges against potential defensive setups without their younger receivers.

Latest Updates

10:45 PMYahoo Sports — With Stribling, Pearsall both injured, 49ers must lean on experience at wide receiver

What they're saying

"
The San Francisco 49ers' dependence on thirtysomethings at skill positions has been exacerbated by De'Zhaun Stribling's injury. Can the old-timers carry the load?
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers NFL Football