49ers lose another WR as Demarcus Robinson suffers ankle injury

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For the second time in as many games, the San Francisco 49ers lost a wide receiver to an ankle injury asDemarcus Robinson departed late in the second quarter of Sunday's matchup with the Miami Dolphins and did not return.

After the Niners' 35-13 win, coach Kyle Shanahan said Robinson's initial diagnosis was a high right ankle sprain, an injury that could cost him extended time.

Robinson's injury follows rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling suffering a left ankle injury last week that required surgery and will keep him out for 10 weeks. Ricky Pearsallhad season-ending knee surgery in training camp, and veteran wideout Christian Kirk landed on injured reserve in July because of a calf issue.

San Francisco also got some good injury news as No. 1 wideout Mike Evans departed in the fourth quarter Sunday because of a hip issue, but Shanahan said after the game it did not seem serious.

"It can always change tomorrow," Shanahan said. "But if the game was different, he would've been able to come back in."

Without Robinson and Evans, the Niners finished the game with just three healthy wideouts:Deebo Samuel, Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge. They also have Jordan Watkins, though he was a healthy pregame scratch, on the 53-man roster.

The injury issues at receiver mean the 49ers will have to, at minimum, look to add to their practice squad this week, Shanahan said.

"It has been unfortunate," Shanahan said. "It was big losing Stribling last week. You guys know how big it was losing Ricky over the summer. And then losing D-Rob today was huge. Christian Kirk's got a couple weeks before he can come back, but we've still got a group of guys out there that we have played with that have done things. I'm sure we'll have to add somebody, whether it's a practice squad or to the roster, but those are things we'll start discussing tonight and hopefully have an answer by Wednesday."

Robinson came up limping after a 20-yard catch with 6:46 to go in the second quarter Sunday.

During the play, Robinson got open on the left hash, but quarterback Brock Purdy led him a bit too far. Robinson extended for the ball and rolled over as he secured the catch. He attempted to get back up to score but couldn't get back on his feet, and a Dolphins defender touched him down.

Robinson favored his right ankle as he quickly hobbled to the medical tent on the Niners' sideline. A few moments later, Robinson was placed on a cart and taken to the locker room. The 49ers initially designated Robinson as questionable to return but ruled him out at halftime.

Without Stribling, Robinson and Samuel were helping to fill the void, as Samuel started Sunday and Robinson rotated in.

Robinson had three catches for 35 yards when he left the game, though his injury didn't deter Purdy and the offense from producing big numbers. Purdy finished 20-of-22 for 287 yards and two passing touchdowns and another 30 yards and a score on the ground.

Still, Purdy noted the effects of losing so many key receivers so early in the season.

"These are all extremely great playmakers that, looking at our roster and OTAs and camp, is like, 'Oh shoot, we can do some damage,'" Purdy said. "And then yeah, Ricky goes down, Strib and now D-Rob. ... It sucks. Those are my guys, and those are our playmakers. For them to go down early in the season like that is tough."

Though the Niners will look to bolster the position this week, Shanahan made it clear there is one bridge the team won't cross: a reunion with wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Asked whether there was any chance of bringing Aiyuk back in light of the injuries at receiver, Shanahan responded simply, "No."