49ers-Browns live blog: Niners lose in rainy Cleveland

The 49ers look to keep their perfect start intact Sunday in Cleveland, where they’ll face the NFL’s No. 1 overall defense, but won’t see starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Follow along here as we track the action:

0:06, 4Q – Browns 19, 49ers 17: Jake Moody’s 41-yard field goal attempt sails wide right and the 49ers suffer their first lost of the season. Moody had been perfect entering the game, and the 49ers drove 52 yards to set up the attempt, the rookie’s second miss of the game.

1:40, 4Q – Browns 19, 49ers 17: Dustin Hopkins’ 29-yard field goal gives the Browns a late lead after a 63-yard drive aided by two questionable penalty calls: Unnecessary roughness on third-and-10 called against Tashaun Gipson and holding two plays later on Charvarius Ward.

3:21, 4Q – 49ers 17, Browns 16: Dustin Hopkins’ third field goal of the game brings Cleveland within one point. His 50-yarder came after the Browns drove 43 yards on 14 plays, the last of which was a Nick Bosa sack that made Hopkins’ attempt more difficult.

10:58, 4Q – 49ers 17, Browns 13: Jordan Mason scored from eight yards out on a toss to the left side, breaking through after the 49ers’ offense had stalled repeatedly. The touchdown was set up by an interception and 28-yard return from Deommodore Lenoir.

2:59, 3Q – Browns 13, 49ers 10: Dustin Hopkins made a 46-yard field goal to put the 49ers behind in the second half for the first time this season. The kick came Brock Purdy’s first interception of the year flipped field position earlier in the quarter.

11:09, 3Q – 49ers 10, Browns 10: Cleveland scores on its first drive of the second half as Dustin Hopkins makes a 42-yard field goal. A second chunk play today by Amari Cooper — this time a 27-yard catch — was the longest play on the drive.

5:38, 2Q – 49ers 10, Browns 7: Cleveland scores on a quick-strike drive that featured a 58-yard catch-and-run by Amari Cooper to the Niners’ 25-yard line. The Browns pulled a trick out of their hat on third-and-1 from the 49ers’ 16, putting tight end Harrison Bryant under center to signal a sneak attempt, then pitching it wide to Kareem Hunt, who broke around the left side for a score.

7:54, 2Q – 49ers 10, Browns 0: Jake Moody made a 25-yard field goal to cap a long 49ers drive that was jump-started by a 15-yard Ray-Ray McCloud run and a 33-yard completion from Brock Purdy to a wide-open Brandon Aiyuk, who hurdled a defender.

6:50, 1Q – 49ers 7, Browns 0: Jake Moody’s first missed field goal attempt of the season ended the 49ers’ second drive. After Fred Warner picked off P.J. Walker in 49ers territory and returned it to the Cleveland 26, the San Francisco offense lost 10 yards before Moody’s 54-yard attempt.

12:16, 1Q – 49ers 7, Browns 0: The Niners marched 84 yards on their opening drive, which was capped by a Christian McCaffrey shovel-pass touchdown from Brock Purdy to extend the running back’s scoring streak to 15 games (second in NFL history). The drive was keyed by a 27-yard run by McCaffrey and two 15-yard penalties on the Browns.

Below are our notes from pregame:

CLEVELAND — A brief but feisty brawl erupted along the 49ers sideline as players came out for warmups, about 40 minutes before kickoff against the host Browns.

About 15 players from both teams gathered near midfield, and Trent Williams was the first to rush in to shove Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore away from 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel. Moore’s helmet came off upon Williams’ side impact.

No punches were visible, and officials did not appear to eject any players for their actions. It appeared that Aiyuk and Samuel initially riled up the Browns, then pushing and shoving ensued. Aiyuk had to be pulled back by Fred Warner and Colton McKivitz.

The 49ers huddled up as a team shortly thereafter, and it wasn’t just Fred Warner in the middle as usual but an animated Aiyuk hyping up his teammates.

Once pregame warmups concluded 10 minutes later, the 49ers filed down the sideline toward their locker room, and Browns linebackers Anthony Walker and Matthew Adams stood nearby with their arms crossed, and with officials serving as a barrier between them and the 49ers.

GREENLAW OUT, MITCHELL IN 

Dre Greenlaw will miss his first game this season, but the 49ers will welcome back running back Elijah Mitchell for today’s game at the Browns.

Mitchell, after missing the previous two games, returned to practice Thursday, two weeks after getting hurt in practice. He’s only played in two games, including an 11-carry, 42-yard effort in the home opener against the Giants.

The 49ers (5-0) surely will miss Greenlaw’s speed and tenacity, to an extent. The Browns (2-2) will start practice-squad callup P.J. Walker in place of the injured Deshaun Watson.

Greenlaw’s 37 tackles are second only to fellow linebacker Fred Warner’s 54; Greenlaw notched his first sack of the season to close out last Sunday night’s first half in the 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Linebacker Curtis Robinson was elevated Saturday from the practice squad, a signal that the 49ers would be without Greenlaw, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Thursday’s practice and was limited Friday; he missed the entire preseason because of a hamstring issue through camp. Robinson played 18 special-teams snaps in the season opener.

OTHER INACTIVES

With Mitchell suiting up as potential relief for Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers returned Ty Davis-Price to the inactive list. Also in uniform is Jordan Mason, who scored the 49ers’ final touchdown last Sunday night.

Other inactives: offensive lineman Matt Pryor, defensive lineman Kalia Davis, linebacker Jalen Graham and tight end Brayden Willis, along with emergency No. 3 quarterback Brandon Allen.

Replacing Pryor as an offensive line reserve is Nick Zakelj, who suits up for the first time this season.

Also in uniform is practice-squad callup Shemar Jean-Charles, a cornerback who played 13 special-teams snaps in the home-opening win over the Giants.

BROWNS BENCHED

Joining Watson on the Browns’ inactive list are guard Joel Bitonio (knee), defensive tackle Siaki Ika, defensive end Isaiah McGuire, safety Ronnie Hickman, cornerback Kahlef Hailassie and wide receiver Cedric Tillman.

Michael Dunn will start at left guard in place of Bitonio.