49ers Rookie WR De’Zhaun Stribling Returns to Practice After Hamstring Tightness
De’Zhaun Stribling took the field again. San Francisco needed it.
The 49ers rookie wide receiver returned to practice Thursday after missing time with hamstring tightness, a small but meaningful development for a team buried in training camp injuries. Stribling didn’t take part in full team drills in his first day back. He worked on the side instead, easing back in rather than jumping straight into 11-on-11s.
That’s the expected script for a hamstring. Teams rarely rush the position back at full speed, since a second strain can linger far longer than the first. Stribling’s limited return still counts as a positive sign — it means the tightness responded to rest, and it puts him on a path back to full participation in the near term.
Mac Jones Has Already Given Stribling a Nickname
Quarterback Mac Jones didn’t hold back when asked about his rookie receiver. He’s nicknamed Stribling “The Flyin’ Hawaiian,” a nod to both his speed and his Hawaii roots, and explained the tag on X:
“I call him The Flyin’ Hawaiian because he’s so fast. … The way he got to the ball in the air was impressive. He has a second gear.” — Mac Jones, via X
The praise tracks with what Stribling had already shown before the hamstring flared up. He’d built a reputation in camp for catching what’s thrown at him — not flashy, just reliable — and that consistency is part of why San Francisco is being patient with his recovery instead of pushing him back onto the field before he’s ready.
Stribling’s Role Grew After Ricky Pearsall’s Season-Ending Injury
The stakes around Stribling’s health went up several notches after Ricky Pearsall was ruled out for the entire 2026 season. Pearsall is set for surgery to address damage tied to the PCL injury he suffered last year, and his absence opens meaningful snaps at receiver for whoever’s healthy enough to take them.
That’s put a target on Stribling’s back — the good kind. San Francisco’s first-round investment at the position now carries more urgency to develop, and every practice he misses is a rep some other of the numerous receivers on the roster gets instead.
A Crowded, Banged-Up Receiver Room
Stribling isn’t the only name on the injury report. Mike Evans is out with a quad strain, Christian Kirk is working back from a calf strain, and Jacob Cowing is nursing a hip flexor injury. None of those are considered long-term concerns — Pearsall’s is the exception — but it’s added up to a rough stretch for the position group.
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| De’Zhaun Stribling | Hamstring tightness | Returned Thursday, limited |
| Mike Evans | Quad strain | Out |
| Christian Kirk | Calf strain | Recovering |
| Jacob Cowing | Hip flexor | Working back |
| Ricky Pearsall | PCL/knee | Season-ending, awaiting surgery |
Even with those absences, depth isn’t the issue. San Francisco’s receiver room still includes Evans, Kirk, Deebo Samuel, KhaDarel Hodge, Demarcus Robinson, Cowing, Jordan Watkins, Malik Turner, Will Pauling, Trenton Irwin, Wesley Grimes and Junior Bergen. It’s a room that can absorb some missed practice time — but a young, ascending player like Stribling still benefits most from being on the field, building chemistry with Jones and the rest of the offense before the games start to count.
Okuayinonu Also Returns
San Francisco got a second piece of good injury news Thursday. Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu was back at practice after leaving Wednesday’s session with an ankle injury scare. No further details on his status have been reported.
Camp battles like this one tend to sort themselves out over the next couple of weeks. For now, the 49ers will take steady progress over a setback — and getting Stribling back on the field, even in a limited role, is exactly that.
