Could the San Francisco 49ers be getting their rookie sensation back sooner than expected? The latest update on wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling is about as encouraging as it gets for a player coming off ankle surgery, and it is great news for a 49ers team with real postseason hopes.

Stribling suffered a Grade 3 left ankle deltoid ligament sprain during San Francisco’s Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams, a game the 49ers dominated. The rookie underwent surgery in mid-September and landed on injured reserve with the expectation that he would miss multiple months. There is a chance he is on track to return in December.

De’Zhaun Stribling is walking again

Multiple sources, including 49ers beat reporters Matt Barrows and Grant Cohn, have reported that Stribling is officially walking again.

Barrows noted that one of the most notable sights from the open locker room was Stribling walking around without crutches. He also had no brace or support on his lower leg.

That’s significant. A player who had a Grade 3 deltoid sprain and surgery less than two months ago is now moving around the locker room on his own. I think that is a strong sign the recovery is going the way San Francisco hoped it would.

Now, walking without assistance is not the same as running routes and getting open against NFL cornerbacks. The 49ers still have a month or more before that December target, so it will be important to monitor his progress over the coming weeks. As recovery milestones go, though, this one is a big step.

Why the 49ers need their rookie back

Look, the 49ers are going to need Stribling for a playoff push late in the regular season, and for the postseason if they get there. Based on how this team has played, it seems very likely they will not only get there, but have a chance to make noise. 

Remember how much buzz this kid had heading into the season. There may have been no one in the NFL who had a stronger preseason than Stribling. He put together excellent performances in several games, including a big showing against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the preseason. 

There may not have been a rookie in the league with more hype around him heading into Week 1.

Then the ankle injury hit in the opener, and San Francisco lost one of its most exciting young weapons before he had a chance to show what he could do when it counted.

A banged-up receiver room is getting healthier

The wide receiver room has been banged up for most of the season, but the bodies are starting to come back.

Christian Kirk has already returned from injury and is looking to increase his snap count. Mike Evans has been dealing with a rib injury along with Achilles soreness. Even so, Evans looks to be on track to keep playing. Deebo Samuel also appears to be recovering well from his hamstring injury and looks close to a return.

With that being said, San Francisco still needs Stribling on the field. You never know what could happen to a receiver group that has already been through a lot this season. He is also more than a depth piece. 

Stribling is a capable player who showed in August that he can make plays at this level.

If Kirk, Evans, and Samuel all stay healthy and Stribling returns on schedule, this receiver room is going to be just fine for a late-season run. Adding a fresh, talented rookie to that group in December would be a luxury most contenders don’t get.

Does the fact that he can walk again guarantee a December return? No. Recovery from an injury like this rarely moves in a straight line. Still, I’ll take a rookie walking around the locker room without crutches or a brace less than two months after surgery every single time.

This is good news for San Francisco. If Stribling keeps progressing at this pace, the 49ers will have a dangerous weapon to unleash right when the games start to matter most.