Rookie Star or Team Weakness | San Francisco 49ers News

Rookie DeZhaun Stribling is lighting up the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason with seven catches and rave reviews, sparking Rookie of the Year chatter — but veteran Mike Evans’ early exit due to ankle soreness raises alarms. Former NFL star T.J. Houshmandzadeh warns that if Stribling’s rookie season hinges on a 1,000-yard campaign, it could be a red flag: championship teams don’t rely on unproven rookies to carry the load. With stars like Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel already carrying heavy expectations, Stribling’s breakout might signal deeper offensive struggles — and whether he can shoulder that burden without veterans stepping up remains the biggest question for the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ba679e429b5e806c