Right tackle Trent Brown will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday during his press conference at team headquarters in Santa Clara.
Brown has been plagued by a shoulder injury sustained toward the end of practice on Thanksgiving Day. He sat out the next game, Nov. 26, against Seattle before returning to the starting lineup at Chicago a week later.
Brown did not play Sunday against the Houston Texans after seeing limited practice time on Thursday and Friday. Veteran guard Zane Beadles started at right tackle in the 49ers’ 26-16 victory over the Texans.
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Brown, a third-year player, did not practice Wednesday or Thursday of this week. The decision to undergo surgery at this stage would likely ensure Brown is available for the opening of training camp in late-July after a lengthy rehabilitation.
A seventh-round draft pick in 2015 from Florida, Brown started all 16 games last season at right tackle. He is eligible to sign a contract extension in the offseason, as he is scheduled to enter the final season of his original four-year contract.
Beadles is the 49ers’ fourth option at right tackle. Brown's top backups, Garry Gilliam (knee) and Erik Magnuson (foot), went on injured reserve earlier this season.
