49ers place De'Zhaun Stribling on injured reserve, top pick shelved for at least four games

De’Zhaun Stribling‘s first stint on injured reserve will come before his first NFL catch.

The San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after he suffered an ankle injury in last week’s season-opening win over the Rams, ESPN reported. Stribling will miss the next four games, at a minimum, and will be eligible to return when the 49ers host the Commanders on Oct. 19.

It’s possible Stribling will be sidelined even longer. The No. 33 overall pick reportedly suffered a sprained deltoid ligament in his left ankle and the injury could require surgery. The Chronicle spoke with two ankle surgeons who consult with NFL teams this week and both said a procedure would sideline Stribling for three to four months. If surgery isn’t required, they said, a typical timeline to return is four to six weeks.

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This article originally published at 49ers place De’Zhaun Stribling on injured reserve, top pick shelved for at least four games.