Early before the San Francisco 49ers' final preseason contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, rookie sensation De'Zhaun Stribling was ruled out. The inactive status came on the heels of two breakout performances, in which he caught a combined 11 passes for 109 yards.
With the DNP, head coach Kyle Shanahan arguably said more about his opinion on the rookie than he ever has before. After all, it was only a few days ago when Kyle Shanahan confused the masses by minimizing Stribling's summertime accomplishments. Needless to say, the 49er faithful know exactly where he stands now.
De'Zhaun Stribling sat out the team's preseason finale - as did nearly every starter. With this decision, Shanahan is inadvertently telling the wideout he doesn't need to see anymore from him. Despite his prior comments, it appears Stribling's play has indeed left an impression.
49ers clearly put Stribling on the same level as all the other full-time starters
The 49ers' wide receiver room has already suffered its share of bumps and bruises, and Brock Purdy is entering the year a couple of weapons down. Shanahan wasn't exactly forthright in outlining his plans for the second-round pick, especially given his tendency to prioritize experience over youth.
He even said as much when he mourned over Ricky Pearsall's season-ending injury, saying how Pearsall and others would've allowed him to slowplay Stribling's role in the offense.
Now, there is no doubt that Stribling will be one of the focal points of Shanahan's attack from day one. Few would be shocked if the rookie didn't quickly become one of Purdy's go-to weapons within a matter of weeks. With his rare combination of size, speed, and formidable hands, it'd be tough to keep him off the field for long.
De'Zhaun Stribling's starter status was earned, not given
De'Zhaun Stribling sat out the 49ers' preseason finale, but it was for all the right reasons. He earned the DNP.
Now assuming a starting role, he must rest up for Week 1 of the regular season, when his squad travels to Australia to face the Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams. The matchup will be tough, and Stribling, along with the rest of the passing attack, will need to bring their best if they wish to keep up with their division rivals.
Add us as a preferred source on Google