De’Zhaun Stribling, a rookie wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, has changed his jersey number to No. 7 for the upcoming season. This number was previously worn by Daejon Love, who was arrested on August 24 for allegedly posing as a 49ers player and defrauding multiple women out of over $1.3 million through a romance and investment scam. Reports indicate that there are 26 victims involved in this case.
The situation has gained attention as a viral meme associated with the 49ers during a challenging offseason, which has included various incidents such as a serious car accident involving head coach Kyle Shanahan and injuries to players during training camp.
Despite the surrounding controversies, Stribling has shown promise on the field, achieving the highest offensive grade among rookie receivers at 90.0 during the preseason. He is anticipated to be a significant contributor to the team, especially with the absence of fellow wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. Stribling has also received commendations from notable players, including Brock Purdy and Trent Williams. In his first two preseason games, he accumulated 109 receiving yards on 11 receptions, although he did not participate in the final preseason game.