De’Zhaun Stribling had surgery on his left ankle and is expected to miss about 10 weeks, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.
The rookie receiver went on injured reserve this week. The 49ers had initially hoped he could heal without an operation and return after a four-game stay on IR.
Shanahan still expects him back this season.
“We feel good he’ll get back this season,” Shanahan said. “It’ll take some time.”
Stribling hurt the ankle in the 49ers’ 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. He sprained the deltoid ligament, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That ligament sits on the inside of the ankle.
The staff tested the ankle on the sideline before sending him back in during the second quarter. He then went down without contact on a route.
“His Achilles [was] intact,” Shanahan said. “We’ve seen it’s not a high ankle sprain. He’s running. We’re going to let him go back in. And then he goes back in and does a turn that you don’t replicate on the sideline, and then you find out it’s worse than that.”
A 10-week absence measured from the Sept. 16 surgery runs into late November.
The 49ers drafted Stribling 33rd overall in April. He stood out in camp and the preseason, catching 11 passes for 109 yards in the first two exhibition games.
His absence thins a receiver group that was already short. Ricky Pearsall went on injured reserve during training camp with persistent knee issues and will not return this year.
San Francisco will now lean on veterans Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson. All three caught touchdown passes from Brock Purdy in the opener, and Evans scored his first as a 49er.
Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins provide depth. The team also promoted veteran KhaDarel Hodge from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Christian Kirk is eligible to come off injured reserve after Week 4. Shanahan said he believes Kirk is on track for that timeline but is not certain.
The injuries extend to tight end. Jake Tonges went on injured reserve Wednesday with a knee injury that needs surgery and will miss the season. The 49ers promoted tight end Brayden Willis from the practice squad.
San Francisco hosts the Miami Dolphins in its home opener Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET.
Should Stribling’s recovery hold to the 10-week estimate, his return would come in the second half of the season, after Kirk’s expected return from IR.
