The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for their Week 5 contest against the Cleveland Browns on Monday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

On Thursday, the 49ers held their first of three practices in as many days with their last outing coming on Saturday. That's when the team hopes to have defensive end Dee Ford back on the practice field. The 49ers' new pass rusher didn't practice on Thursday.

Ford is dealing with the return of his knee tendinitis, which will likely plague him throughout the season, and quadricep issue. Ford plans to play through the discomfort and could potentially have surgery during the offseason.

"It's definitely improving," head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday. "We're not going to put him out there today, and we'll see day to day with that. Really hoping to have him Monday night, but he'll be questionable all week."

Shanahan acknowledged that the injury could force Ford to miss practices each week this season, leading to games.

"We hope [the issue] goes away," Shanahan continued. "The stuff that we've done for him, we've got to ease him back into it, which we are doing. Hopefully, he'll get out there possibly tomorrow, more likely on [Saturday]."


Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who suffered a foot sprain on September 22 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, was seen getting some work in on a side field with Ford during practice.

Below are Thursday's practice participation reports for both the 49ers and Browns, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff.

San Francisco 49ers Thursday Practice


Did Not Participate In Practice
DE Dee Ford (quadricep), T Joe Staley (fibula), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (foot)

Limited Participation in Practice
RB Tevin Coleman (ankle)

Cleveland Browns Thursday Practice


Did Not Participate In Practice
LB Willie Harvey (shoulder), T Kendall Lamm (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (concussion, shoulder), CB Denzel Ward (hamstring), CB Greedy Williams (hamstring)

Limited Participation in Practice
S Morgan Burnett (quadricep), WR Rashard Higgins (knee), T Christopher Hubbard (foot), S Sheldrick Redwine (hamstring)

Full Participation in Practice
WR Odell Beckham (hip), K Austin Seibert (right hip)


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