The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver room is already banged up just over a month before the 2026 NFL season begins.

But the team finally received good news about one of their wide receivers at Thursday’s training camp practice.

49ers rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, who was drafted 33rd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, returned to practice. He has been dealing with a hamstring injury that had kept him away from the field for over a week. Stribling didn’t take part in team drills, but any return amidst an injury crisis for San Francisco’s wide receiver room is a good sign.

While the Ole Miss product was limited in his return, he is clearly trending in the right direction.

Stribling was one of many wideouts to miss Wednesday’s practice. Christian Kirk and Mike Evans were both sidelined by different injuries.

In light of Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending surgery, the 49ers signed Deebo Samuel to a one-year, $4.1 million contract. Pearsall’s absence for the 2026 campaign has also opened the door for Stribling to see notable snaps alongside the 49ers wide receiver corps of Evans, Samuel and Kirk.

It’s been a tumultuous start to training camp for the 49ers as head coach Kyle Shanahan sustained severe injuries in a car accident on July 14.

The injury bug has already played a role in the Bay Area, where the 49ers finished Wednesday’s practice down 20 players on their 90-man roster.

But Stribling’s return is a bright spot for the team as the rookie’s performance has already turned heads in camp this summer.

Brock Purdy praised the 23-year-old for his reliability and quick adjustment to the pro’s.

“This dude has proven to all of us that he’s reliable and we can trust him … I got a lot of trust in him right now,” Purdy said on Day 2 of training camp.

“Dude is a baller and I mean that. It’s hard to say that for a rookie right off the jump, but just seeing him run routes, going up against defenders in OTAs and in camp yesterday. He’s a great route runner. He’s smart. He’s learned the playbook really quick— which is awesome.”