Brock Purdy Points to Bigger Role for 49ers Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling Ahead of Season Opener

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has publicly signaled that rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling will factor prominently into the team’s offensive plans this season, offering the strongest on-the-record endorsement yet of the second-round pick’s early development.

Purdy made the comments on the “49ers Talk” podcast hosted by NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, praising the rookie’s approach since arriving at camp. He noted that Stribling has absorbed the playbook quickly and maintained a low-key, work-first mentality through his first professional offseason, adding that the receiver will carry meaningful responsibilities in the offense this year.

Reporting from The Athletic’s Matt Barrows helps fill in the specifics. According to Barrows, Stribling is positioned to open the season as the team’s primary slot receiver, while also serving as the top understudy behind Mike Evans at the X receiver spot. Deebo Samuel is slated to line up at Z on the strong side. Barrows emphasized that the 49ers intend to cross-train all of their receivers across all three positions, but the slot appears to be Stribling’s fastest route to regular snaps.

The 49ers selected Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick this spring, the first choice of the second round. He finished his collegiate career at Ole Miss after stops at Washington State and Oklahoma State, compiling 261 receptions for 2,964 yards and 23 touchdowns. His 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine showcased the downfield speed that made him a coveted draft target, even as his immediate role tilts toward the interior of the formation.

Stribling’s preseason tape backed up the hype in a limited sample. Across two games, he caught 11 of 13 targets for 109 yards. He sat out the preseason finale with a minor shoulder injury, though the team has not characterized the issue as serious.

What to watch

• How the 49ers distribute snaps among Stribling, Evans, and Samuel in the season opener, and whether the slot projection holds.
• Status updates on Stribling’s shoulder after he sat out the final preseason game.
• Whether Purdy continues targeting the rookie early in the regular season, following a preseason that saw 13 targets come his way.
• In-game usage of cross-trained receivers, given Barrows’ reporting that all three positions are interchangeable in the 49ers’ scheme.

Note: Comcast Corporation (CMCSA), whose NBC Sports Bay Area unit produced the “49ers Talk” podcast, traded at $26.65 on the day of this report, down 0.86% from a prior close of $26.88, with a market capitalization of roughly $94.4 billion.

Source: original release