The 49ers elevated place kicker Matt Gay and linebacker Jalen Graham Saturday from the practice squad to face the Cleveland Browns.
Gay kicked field goals of 47 and 29 yards without a miss and converted two extra points in the 49ers’ 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night in place of Eddy Piñeiro, who is out with a hamstring strain. The forecast in Cleveland Sunday calls or a high of 38 degrees with the possibility of snow and freezing rain.
Depending on how fast Piñeiro heals, it could be Gay’s finale with the 49ers. The 49ers have their long-awaited bye week coming up, and resume play on Dec. 14 against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Piñeiro has yet to miss a field goal attempt in 22 tries.
Graham, in his second season out of Purdue, was active for the first time this season and played seven snaps on special teams, getting no time on defense behind Curtis Robinson and Dee Winters. Tatum Bethune, who replaced the injured Fred Warner, started five games but sustained a high ankle sprain against Arizona.
It’s not known when Bethune will return, but the 49ers added some insurance this week with the signing of 33-year-old veteran Eric Kendricks to the practice squad. Kendricks started 15 games for Dallas last season and had 138 tackles.
By the time the 49ers play their next game against Tennessee, Kendricks should be acclimated to the defense and able to play and perhaps start assuming Bethune will not be available.
The 49ers thought they had an agreement with Kendricks last season with Dre Greenlaw rehabbing from a torn Achilles but Kendricks instead signed with Dallas. That led to the 49ers’ ill-fated signing of De’Vondre Campbell, who played poorly in 12 games before refusing to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 12.