49ers open Malik Mustapha’s practice window before Week 6 game vs. Buccaneers

Safety Malik Mustapha has been cleared to make a return to the 49ers’ practice field.San Francisco on Monday officially opened the practice window for Mustapha, who underwent surgery in January to reattach a graft of the anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee from a previous surgery. He remains on the physically unable to perform list, though he now can be activated at any point.Mustapha could play Sunday when the 49ers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.The 49ers have up to 21 days to activate Mustapha to the 53-man roster for him to remain eligible to play this season.Mustapha, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Wake Forest, started 12 games as a rookie. He sustained the injury in the 49ers’ season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.Rookie Marques Sigle and veteran Jason Pinnock have started the 49ers’ first five games of the season.Tight end George Kittle remains on the injured reserve list. He has missed the past four games and is eligible to have his practice window opened, too.Coach Kyle Shanahan described it as a “long shot” that Kittle would be able to play this week against the Buccaneers after sustaining a...