The string of bad luck for the San Francisco 49ers seems to have no end in sight. Injuries have been a perpetual conversation for the franchise, with a plethora of theories emerging about the possible reasons for their misfortune.
Their bad luck, though, might have now derailed what was looking like a huge success story for the team. De’Zhaun Stribling had been turning heads throughout the offseason for them. But now, it looks like an injury is going to be a factor for him as well.
De’Zhaun Stribling Is the Latest Victim for the 49ers
Splitting time between Washington State, Oklahoma State, and Ole Miss, Stribling came into the league as a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, throughout the offseason, he had quickly become a huge talking point for the team.
Fans got a taste of what to expect from him in the preseason. After recording 7 catches for 63 yards in the first week of preseason, he went for 4 receptions and 46 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers this week.
As a result, the hope was that he could be as lethal as he’d shown himself to be throughout the summer. But the injury bug has affected him as well. Matt Maiocco, who has been covering the 49ers for over three decades, provided the unfortunate injury update.
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“49ers’ new injuries. WR De’Zhaun Stribling and CB Deommodore Lenoir are both day-to-day with shoulder injuries,” the NBC Sports Bay Area analyst revealed. “Also not practicing: CB Renardo Green (hamstring), OL Austen Pleasants (knee), LB Nick Martin (hamstring).”
49ers new injuries
WR De’Zhaun Stribling and CB Deommodore Lenoir are both day to day with shoulder injuries.Also not practicing: CB Renardo Green (hamstring), OL Austen Pleasants (knee),
LB Nick Martin (hamstring)— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 22, 2026
The fans’ worry was understandable, but the internet doctor Jesse Morse wanted to assuage some of the worst fears of the fan base. He explained how the timeline for his recovery may suggest the injury is not as serious as it might initially seem.
“De’Zhaun Stribling is day-to-day with a shoulder injury,” Morse wrote on X. “The fact that it’s this designation and not out 1-2 weeks or longer, tells me it’s likely a mild Type I AC sprain. Mildly annoying but not overly concerning, and I wouldn’t worry about it or expect his ADP to drop. Still a big fan.”
De’Zhaun Stribling is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
The fact that it’s this designation and not out 1-2 weeks or longer, tells me it’s likely a mild Type I AC sprain.
Mildly annoying but not overly concerning and I wouldn’t worry about it or expect his ADP to drop.… https://t.co/P7WlqfFmNe pic.twitter.com/hbkTiPszVS
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) August 22, 2026
But it didn’t take long for fans to jump to the electrical substation theory. With the 49ers’ facility eerily close to an electrical substation, many theorized that its location was the cause of the higher injury rate on the roster.
— ᴡᴏɴᴛᴏɴ🤓 (@Kateconn5) August 22, 2026
So far, no concrete answer has come to light. But that didn’t stop fans from making memes about the station, while others were just accepting the team’s fate.
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“All the 49ers will be hurt this year, just expect it,” said a fan on X.
It doesn’t discriminate by age pic.twitter.com/HPLCJRj52s
— jAnkyRondo4OC (@ballwhisperer9) August 22, 2026
One fan even believed that the “49ers are cursed,” even as John Chapman of the 49ers Rush tried to keep a positive outlook: “Seeing day to day attached to De’Zhaun Stribling and DMO is a great thing. Wish they stayed completely healthy, of course, but nothing major.”
The 49ers’ offense ranked fourth in the league last season with an impact score of 85.6 on PFN’s Offense Impact Metric, and to stay at that level, they need Stribling on the field.
It remains to be seen if the shoulder ailment was just a blip for the promising rookie wide receiver or if it becomes a larger problem over the course of the season. But for the time being, expect the 49ers to exercise every precaution with him before their season begins against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1.
