San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling starred in a 19-13 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, August 14, 2026, hauling in seven catches for 63 yards while quarterback Kurtis Rourke sustained a rib injury that sent him briefly to the hospital.
De’Zhaun Stribling Shines in Preseason Debut
The San Francisco 49ers might have dropped their preseason opener to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, but the offensive game plan delivered an immediate breakout performance from its top draft selection. De’Zhaun Stribling hauled in seven passes on eight targets for 63 yards, asserting himself as the most productive target on the field while going up against a Titans defense that largely featured starting units.
The rookie slot receiver’s night featured several highlight-reel plays, none more impressive than a second-quarter sideline catch on third-and-6. Stribling contorted his body on a 32-yard reception down the right sideline, snatching a deep ball above veteran cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Earlier, Stribling secured a contested 10-yard reception with Flott draped over his back.
“It seemed good. We’ll see when we watch the film. I thought he struggled a little bit on that first drive, but I think he got three drives after that and seemed like he executed all the stuff that went to him. I liked how his hands looked out there, and he played physical.”
Kyle Shanahan, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers
Coaches rewarded the rookie’s efficient output by giving him the rest of the night off with nearly eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, long before other offensive starters exited. Four months after analysts questioned whether San Francisco reached for the pass-catcher in the draft, the conversation around the rookie has turned squarely toward his ceiling.
Kurtis Rourke Impresses Before Rib Injury
Behind center, Kurtis Rourke put together an encouraging performance in his first NFL game action since the franchise drafted him in 2025. Competing against Adrian Martinez for the team’s third quarterback job, Rourke started ahead of his rival and completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards while operating against Tennessee’s starting defense.
Rourke displayed poise when plays broke down, escaping the grasp of defender Cody Barton on an early fourth down during the opening drive to pick up six yards and move the chains. Rourke could make Mac Jones expendable as the trade deadline approaches if he maintains that level of production, positioning himself comfortably ahead of Martinez in the roster battle.
The strong debut ended prematurely, however. Rourke lowered his head on a 3-yard run near the goal line and sustained an injury to his ribs. Although he remained on the field to finish the drive—which culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Patrick Taylor Jr.—he experienced trouble breathing after leaving the game.
Rookie Standouts and Defensive Disruptions
San Francisco’s defensive effort featured several notable performances from rookies and reserve players vying for roster spots. Do-everything rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger started at the SAM linebacker position and made an immediate impact by halting a second-quarter scramble by Titans quarterback Cam Ward for a two-yard gain, following up with a secure arm tackle on running back Tyjae Spears.
Along the defensive line, Gracen Halton disrupted Tennessee’s front by bulling through starting offensive linemen Peter Skoronski and Dan Moore Jr. to register what would have been a sack before a secondary penalty wiped it out. On the very next snap, Halton tossed an offensive lineman aside to drop Spears for a loss behind the line of scrimmage.
“Once I get hot, it’s over with. I win one, and then next thing you know, I’m in my head like, ‘OK, I got this.’ So I build that confidence, and it’s over.”
Gracen Halton, Defensive Lineman, San Francisco 49ers
Meanwhile, cornerback Ephesians Prysock entered the game following a hand injury to Jack Jones and immediately broke up an end-zone pass intended for high-profile draft pick Carnell Tate. With roster cuts and regular-season preparations looming ahead of the team’s scheduled opener on September 10 in Australia, the performances of Stribling, Rourke, and the rookie class give coaching staff valuable depth to evaluate.
