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49ers, Browns sidelines clear as players scuffle before kickoff

Deebo Samuel was in the middle of the action of a pregame Browns-49ers scuffle. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Deebo Samuel was in the middle of the action of a pregame Browns-49ers scuffle. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)

Things got heated Sunday before kickoff between the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

During pregame warmups in Cleveland, several players from both teams got into a scuffle at midfield near the 49ers' sideline. As the incident escalated, players from both sidelines joined the fray.

A closer angle shows that 49ers Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams were in the middle of it. Aiyuk and Browns safety Juan Thornhill traded shoves before Samuel jumped in to push Thornhill. Williams then body checked Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore, knocking his helmet off.

Things eventually settled down without further escalation.

Later, as the 49ers left the field for their locker room, officials stood between players from both teams as Browns players patrolled the sideline.

It's not clear what sparked the skirmish, and it didn't initially appear that officials handed out any penalties or ejections — a good thing for the 49ers, who saw some of their best players in the middle of the action.