The San Francisco 49ers are placing rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling on injured reserve after additional medical evaluations found a more serious ankle injury. The move follows San Francisco's 27-7 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia.
Stribling, a second-round selection from Ole Miss, left the game during the first half with a lower-body injury and did not return. Coach Kyle Shanahan initially said the rookie's Achilles tendon was intact, but later reports identified an ankle injury that will keep Stribling out for at least four games.
Adam Schefter reported that Stribling is being placed on injured reserve because of the injury. Jeremy Fowler later described it as a deltoid ankle sprain and reported that recovery is expected to take at least a month. Stribling is also seeking additional medical opinions about whether surgery may be needed.
San Francisco responded by moving KhaDarel Hodge from its practice squad to the active roster. Hodge had two tackles in the Australia game.
