The 49ers do not know who their placekicker will be when they open the regular season against the Steelers on September 10, as ESPN’s Nick Wagoner details. The club did not make an effort to re-sign longtime kicker Robbie Gould this offseason but did acquire veteran Zane Gonzalez via trade and selected Jake Moody in the third round of the 2023 draft (thereby making Moody just the second kicker in the past 15 years to be taken within the draft’s top 100 picks).
Unfortunately, Gonzalez and Moody have both sustained injuries that threaten their Week 1 availability. Given the draft capital the team invested into him, Moody has been viewed as the presumptive starter, and he has performed well in practice, converting most of his field goal attempts (including multiple attempts from over 60 yards). He has struggled in preseason action, however, missing two FG attempts against the Raiders — though one was a 58-yard try — and an extra point against the Broncos.
Wagoner writes that Moody left Wednesday’s practice early, and the Michigan product is considered week-to-week with a right quadriceps injury. In light of Moody’s ailment, it appeared as if Gonzalez would have a chance to make a case for himself in San Francisco’s preseason finale against the Chargers on Friday, but he suffered a strained calf that kept him out of the game. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Gonzalez’s injury will cost him multiple weeks, and given that he was facing an uphill battle to make the club anyway, it seems he is not long for the 49ers’ roster.
The Niners obviously need to make at least a short-term addition, and Shanahan said the team will work out multiple kickers this week. Gould, 40, recently said that he has spoken with several teams and is remaining patient as he looks for the right fit. It is unclear whether he would entertain a reunion with San Francisco given the presence of Moody, though Shanahan would not rule it out.
“We’re discussing everything and just being ready for any possibility to maneuver this roster however, but we really don’t know what direction we’re gonna go until time takes care of that,” Shanahan said.
should never draft kickers early waste of draft pick
Next niner thing I want to see on here is that they signed bosa
Robbie Gould, Ryan Succop and Mason Crosby are available.
Gould has all the leverage. If they didn’t want to pay him before, he’s only going to up his price now.
It sounds like the niners didn’t even make an effort to keep him. If the money was too much at the time it’s odd that they didn’t at least try to offer him less. A lot of kickers in the league have to deal with a revolving door, moving from team to team or often going to no team. So it is not outrageous to say that Gould would probably be happier making less rather than making nothing.
Did they think he was getting too old to do the job? I did not see a big fall off in his production.
They didn’t want to pay him
They did what Ryan Pace did with the Bears. Hopefully they don’t have as hard a time as Pace did to replace him. Fact is, the man has never missed a kick in the playoffs. How that is not gold (no pun intended) to the Niners I don’t know.
I agree. Miss Robbie
Always Good as Gold/Gould. Bears got what they deserved letting him go out of spite then suffering the Double Doink. You don’t let a Hall of Fame Kicker go and not look dumb AF.
They won’t sign any of those kickers before week one. Their contracts would be guaranteed. They will bring in someone they can pay cheep and for a week or two.
They won’t sign any of those kickers before week one. Their contracts would be guaranteed
They will bring in someone they can pay cheep and for a week or two.
Gould has earned the right to dictate his terms for playing. He’s been that good.
Should have resigned Robbie in the first place.
Lynch knows that Lance has a better leg than arm so maybe he could trade for him…just for kicks.
Mason Crosby or Michael Badgley
They aren’t going to sign any big-name kicker at this point. the veteran contracts are guaranteed for the year and they don’t need a kicker for the season, just a week or two. Another Gould contract wasn’t in the budget. What you see in cap space is needed for next year to help with the cost of Bosa’s deal. If they spend anything else this year, it’ll be for a mid-season move.