SANTA CLARA — The 49ers began their preparation for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns with another defensive injury. 

Before heading out to the practice field, coach Kyle Shanahan said Sam Okuayinonu suffered a high ankle sprain in the 49ers’ Monday Night win over the Carolina Panthers. The defensive lineman will miss multiple weeks. 

Linebacker Tatum Bethune will sit out another week due to a high ankle sprain, along with kicker Eddy Pineiro, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. 

Linebacker Luke Gifford was limited during practice again with a hip and calf injury, but the 49ers got good news regarding defensive lineman Robert Beal, who returned to practice after clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol. Beal was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.

Shanahan announced that the 49ers won’t open the practice window for any of their injured players this week — including receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jacob Cowing, and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos. 

“He’s coming along,” Shanahan said of Gross-Matos. “It’s been a tough year for him, missing all of training camp with his knee, and when you do that and come back, you’re susceptible to other things. That’s kind of what’s been his story a little bit this year. But he’s got a chance to come back, and he’s working really hard at it. I think we’ll have a chance here after the bye.”

The 49ers can use all the help they can get on their defensive front after losing defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams for the remainder of the season. 

Full practice report 

Not participating 

LB Tatum Bethune (ankle)

DL Sam Okuayinonu (ankle)

K Eddy Piñeiro (hamstring)


LT Trent Williams (rest)


RB Christina McCaffrey (rest)



Limited 

LB Luke Gifford (hip/calf) 

Full Participation 

DL Robert Beal (concussion)

WR Ricky Pearsall (knee)

OL Dominik Puni (shoulder) 

QB Brock Purdy (toe) 

The 49ers will take Thursday off for the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume preparation on Friday with a short practice before traveling to Cleveland that afternoon.

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