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San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

49ers To Sign K Eddy Pineiro

September 9th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:56pm: This is indeed a fast-moving process. Pineiro is joining the 49ers on a one-year deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. He will be in position to kick for San Francisco in Week 2.

4:31pm: Despite Eddy Pineiro exiting the 2024 season as the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history, he did not land a job this offseason. That may be a break for the 49ers, who ended Jake Moody‘s inconsistent tenure earlier today.

Pineiro is set to work out for the 49ers as a possible replacement, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. No other kickers have been tied to this vacancy, potentially giving Pineiro a leg up. With the 49ers needing to move fast, it should be expected we will have an answer about their Week 2 kicker by Wednesday.

Pineiro, 30 this week, worked out for the Dolphins and Bills last month. With those representing temporary openings, Pineiro would have a more enticing opportunity here since the 49ers are looking for a new kicker.

Best known for his Panthers tenure, Pineiro worked with current 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer with the 2021 Jets. Pineiro kicked in five Jets games in 2021. A better opportunity awaited in Carolina, and Pineiro operated as the Panthers’ kicker from 2022-24. Carolina let Pineiro’s contract expire, going with rookie UDFA Ryan Fitzgerald.

In that time, Pineiro moved into third place on the NFL’s all-time accuracy list — behind Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker. Chris Boswell‘s Week 1 showing in New York bumped Pineiro to fourth place all time, but the latter’s 88.03% career make rate is obviously quite impressive. He went 33-for-35, 25-for-29 and 22-for-26 in three Panthers seasons. This included an 8-for-11 rate from beyond 50 yards in that span.

A 2023 third-round pick, Moody missed 10 field goals last season and two in Week 1. The 49ers moved on with two seasons left on the Michigan product’s rookie contract. Greg Zuerlein also kicked two seasons under Boyer in New York, but neither he nor Zane Gonzalez — who joined Zuerlein in auditioning for the Dolphins late last month — have been linked to this job opening yet.

49ers To Waive K Jake Moody

September 9th, 2025 at 2:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

2:40pm CT: Joseph is not expected to be the 49ers’ next kicker, according to NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco. Though the veteran spent the offseason in San Francisco, the team will be looking for another option to succeed Moody.

11:50am CT: With two of his three field goals failing to split the uprights on Sunday, Jake Moody‘s 2024 struggles appear to have carried over into the 2025 season. As a result, the 49ers are moving on from the 2023 third-round pick, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Moody impressed as a rookie by converting 84.0% of his field goals and a league-high 60 extra points on 61 attempts. In 2024, he got off to a hot start with six field goals in Week 1 and a 93.9% conversion rate through five weeks before an ankle injury sidelined him for three games. The 25-year-old struggled from distance for the rest of the season, making just five of his 14 attempts from over 40 yards.

The 49ers explored other kicker options this offseason and signed six-year veteran Greg Joseph as potential competition, but new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer still expressed confidence in Moody. Joseph was cut before the preseason and Moody went six-for-seven on field goals and five-for-six on extra points to stave off any chance of a last-minute signing.

However, Moody underperformed in the 49ers’ regular season opener against the Seahawks with a 27-yard field goal clanging off the left upright and another attempt from 36 yards getting blocked. That kept the game close and forced San Francisco to score a touchdown with 1:34 remaining to win the game.

The 49ers don’t have another kicker on their active roster or practice squad, so they will need to make an addition before Week 2. Re-signing Joseph would be the team’s most obvious option. He worked out for the Bills and the Dolphins in late August but neither visit resulted in a deal. Several teams have kickers that could be poached from their practice squads – including Matt Prater in Buffalo and Riley Patterson in Miami – and a number of veteran free agents are also available.

49ers To Place George Kittle On IR

September 9th, 2025 at 12:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

A Week 1 hamstring injury is expected to sideline tight end George Kittle for a few games, so the 49ers have opted to place him on injured reserve and open up a roster spot, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Kittle, 31 will be sidelined for a minimum of four games, making him eligible to return for San Francisco’s Week 6 visit to Tampa Bay. It’s another blow to a 49ers offense that started the season without wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee, PUP), Demarcus Robinson (suspension), and Jacob Cowing (hamstring, IR with a return designation). Robinson will be eligible to return in Week 4, while Aiyuk and Cowing will be out until at least Week 5.

The 49ers then saw Kittle and Jauan Jennings exit their regular season opener with Brock Purdy playing through shoulder and toe injuries to finish the game. Initial tests on Jennings’ shoulder indicated that his injury is not serious, but Kyle Shanahan was noncommittal about Purdy’s Week 2 status.

Kittle’s absence will lead to more opportunities for backup tight ends Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges. Both saw more playing time after Kittle exited Sunday’s game with Tonges bringing in a tough contested catch for the game-winning touchdown. Practice squad tight end Brayden Willis will likely be promoted to the 53-man roster, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

This is Kittle’s first IR placement since 2021. He missed five games due to minor injuries over the last three years, but finished each season healthy. The nine-year veteran is coming off his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl season, which included 1,106 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, both the second-best marks of his career. He also posted career highs with 11.8 yards per target and an 83.0% catch rate. In Week 1, he caught four passes for 25 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.

49ers Bring Back WR Kendrick Bourne

September 8th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kendrick Bourne is indeed heading back to San Francisco. The veteran wideout has a deal in place with the 49ers, per a Monday announcement from his agency.

Bourne’s pact is one year in length and has a maximum value of $5MM. San Francisco hosted him on a free agent visit recently, and an offer was made. Shortly after also meeting with the Commanders, Bourne has chosen a familiar landing environment for the 2025 season.

[RELATED: Colton McKivitz Agrees To 49ers Extension]

The former UDFA spent his first four seasons with the 49ers, serving as a regular on offense during that time. Bourne helped his free agent value with a strong 2020 performance, handling a 66% snap share that season. He inked a three-year pact with the Patriots during his first trip to the open market.

Bourne set a new career high with 55 catches and 800 yards during his debut New England campaign, matching his personal best with five touchdowns as well. Over the following three seasons, however, things did not go according to plan. It came as little surprise when New England elected to move on during roster cuts at the end of training camp. In the wake of that decision, it became clear the 49ers were a potential suitor in this case.

San Francisco spent the past few weeks in search of healthy receiving options. Brandon Aiyuk is still on the mend from the ACL tear he suffered last season, while Jacob Cowing opened the campaign on injured reserve (meaning he will be unavailable through at least Week 5). Demarcus Robinson, meanwhile, is serving a three-week suspension and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes Jauan Jennings suffered a shoulder injury yesterday.

Bourne is fully healthy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds he could play as early as Week 2. That would be a welcomed development for a 49ers team which traded for Skyy Moore and signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the lead-up to Week 1. Bourne will join those two, along with Ricky Pearsall, as WR options for San Francisco until the team receives reinforcements at the position.

After playing eight games in 2023 and 12 last year, Bourne will look for a better campaign in terms of availability during his second San Francisco stint. Especially once the team’s other pass catchers are back in the fold, it will be interesting to see how his role takes shape.

49ers, RT Colton McKivitz Agree To Extension

September 8th, 2025 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Extension talks between Colton McKivitz and the 49ers have yielded success. An agreement was reached on a new deal Monday morning.

Team and player have a three-year pact in place, per McKivitz’s agents (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The extension is worth $45MM and includes $27MM guaranteed. San Francisco’s right tackle was a pending free agent, but he is now on the books through 2028.

McKivitz inked a one-year extension last March, and that pact contained $3.85MM in total compensation for 2025. A raise was certainly possible given his level of play and the upward nature of the right tackle market. The 29-year-old recently admitted he was acutely aware of the position’s finances and the impact it would have on his next 49ers pact. With one game in the books for the current season, a long-term commitment is now in place.

The $15MM average annual value of this deal constitutes a notable raise from McKivitz’s previous San Francisco contracts, and it represents another example of how the right tackle market has thrived in recent years. The per-year value of this agreement (at least, as it appears at first glance) matches that of Jaylon Moore, who played out his rookie contract with the 49ers before joining the Chiefs in free agency. That departure left San Francisco in need of a new swing tackle, but McKivitz is now assured of remaining in place well beyond 2025.

The former fifth-round pick saw time at right guard as a rookie, but since then he has operated exclusively as a tackle. McKivitz made just one start in each of the 2021 and ’22 campaigns; following Mike McGlinchey‘s free agent departure, though, he took on full-time right tackle duties. McKivitz was graded out as PFF’s No. 47 offensive tackle in 2023 and last season he improved, finishing 34th at the position.

The 49ers are committing to continued development or at least stable play at the RT spot for years to come. Trent Williams remains under contract through 2026 as one of the league’s highest-paid left tackles. San Francisco’s interior setup along the offensive line remains highly inexpensive for the time being, especially given the decision to allow guard Aaron Banks to depart on the open market in March. With McKivitz now in the fold for years to come at an increased rate, though, expectations will be elevated regarding the team’s tackle play.

49ers’ George Kittle To Miss Multiple Weeks

September 8th, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Ben Levine

While the 49ers escaped Week 1 with a victory, it wasn’t all positive news for the organization. George Kittle exited yesterday’s win in the first half after suffering a hamstring injury, and it sounds like the veteran tight end will miss a handful of games. While speaking with reporters today, coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle will miss some time as he recovers from the injury (per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner).

While Shanahan indicated that his star TE will miss multiple weeks, he wouldn’t commit to Kittle landing on injured reserve (via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has a more definitive timeline for the Pro Bowler, as a source indicated that Kittle would miss between three and five weeks. That timeline would make the player a prime candidate for IR.

While injuries were a theme early in Kittle’s career, the tight end has remained relatively healthy recently. Since being limited to eight games in 2020, the veteran has missed eight total contests over the past four years. He’s also continued to produce as he passed his age-30 season; after finishing the 2023 campaign with 1,022 yards, Kittle compiled 1,106 yards during the 2024 season. He seemed to pick up where he left off to start 2025, as he found the end zone to cap off San Francisco’s first offensive possession.

With Kittle out of the lineup, the 49ers will turn to Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell. Tonges made the most noise yesterday, hauling in three receptions, including the eventual game-winning touchdown.

The injuries don’t stop there. Shanahan revealed that quarterback Brock Purdy is dealing with both a shoulder and toe injury, with the coach stating “we’ll see” when asked about the player’s status for Week 2 (per Wagoner). Shanahan said the toe issue is more serious than the shoulder issue, and the team will use the upcoming week to evaluate the quarterback’s progress. If Purdy isn’t able to go against the Saints, Mac Jones would draw the start.

Finally, receiver Jauan Jennings was sidelined yesterday thanks to a shoulder injury. Shanahan told reporters that the team is still awaiting imaging on the wideout, although initial tests indicated that the player should be okay (per Wagoner). With Brandon Aiyuk out to start the season and Deebo Samuel no longer on the squad, the 49ers were going to be especially reliant on Jennings to begin the 2025 season. The 28-year-old hauled in a pair of catches for 16 yards before exiting yesterday’s game.

2025 Offseason In Review Series

September 7th, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are PFR’s breakdowns of each NFL team’s 2025 offseason.

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

49ers Want To Retain RT Colton McKivitz, Have Initiated Extension Talks

September 7th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Rory Parks

49ers right tackle Colton McKivitz signed a one-year extension last March, so he is entering a platform campaign. As opposed to many impending free agents who publicly downplay the appeal of a massive payday, McKivitz is a bit more upfront.

“It is a big deal. You see what guys are getting (paid) now so it’s hard to not be thinking about it, right?” McKivitz said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “It is a lot of money. You’re in the NFL for, obviously, winning and being good. But money is a hard thing to not think about.”

McKivitz, 29, was selected by the Niners in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. He played sparingly over his first three years in the league but was anointed the starting RT in 2023 after Mike McGlinchey defected to the Broncos in free agency.

Just before McGlinchey signed with Denver in March 2023, McKivitz inked a two-year, $4.65MM re-up, and he then agreed to the aforementioned one-year add-on in March 2024.

As such, he has earned “just” $10.27MM in his career to date, and he is due to make $3.19MM in base salary this year. So it stands to reason that he is hungrily eyeing the booming OT market.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the club would like to retain McKivitz, and Branch indicates San Francisco thinks more highly of him than former starting guard Aaron Banks, who was allowed to depart via free agency this offseason. McKivitz, who presently ranks 25th among the league’s right tackles in terms of average annual salary, said the Niners have contacted his agent to discuss an extension, but “nothing crazy is going on at the moment.”

Branch believes the team is likely offering McKivitz far less than what he would stand to earn on the open market. And after accepting several modest deals, McKivitz may have a bigger goal in mind.

In terms of Pro Football Focus’ evaluations, McKivitz improved across the board from 2023 to 2024. His uptick in play was particularly noticeable in his pass-blocking efforts, as he surrendered nine sacks and 59 pressures in 17 games in 2023 but just two sacks and 36 pressures in the same number of games last year. His 72.2 overall PFF grade placed him 37th among 140 offensive tackles.

Further improvement, or even a reprisal of his 2024 performance, should allow McKivitiz to rocket up the RT pay scale.

49ers ‘Aren’t Overly Concerned’ With RB Christian McCaffrey’s Calf Issue; McCaffrey Will Start In Week 1

September 7th, 2025 at 10:24am CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 7: McCaffrey will start in the Niners’ regular season opener, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A source told Schefter that CMC is “good to go.”

SEPTEMBER 6: When star running back Christian McCaffrey‘s name appeared rather suddenly on the 49ers’ injury report Thursday, a lot of fans (and fantasy owners) likely experienced some PTSD remembering McCaffrey’s 2024 campaign. For whatever it’s worth to those people, “the 49ers aren’t overly concerned” about his status this year, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Following a season in which McCaffrey delivered a first-team All-Pro season and won Offensive Player of the Year, McCaffrey was a surprising scratch for the team’s Week 1 matchup after being limited in practice the week before with a leg issue. He had remained optimistic throughout the week about his ability to play, but when he tested his calf the day of the game, it “didn’t feel right” and the team and player opted to let him rest.

When he still couldn’t go in Week 2, the 49ers opted for an injured reserve stint. A headline-grabbing trip to Germany hinted just how bad things might be, and after returning for a four-game stretch, McCaffrey was shut down again in Week 14, this time for the remainder of the season.

The year, the offseason buzz has been all about how McCaffrey had moved past the injuries and had no physical limitations in offseason workouts. In addition to the prior offseason’s promise to reduce his regular season workload — a promise perhaps made on a monkey’s paw — the team was dedicated to reducing his offseason workload this year, as well.

Then, on Thursday, McCaffrey removed himself from practice after “tweaking his calf,” per Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows, also of The Athletic. McCaffrey asserted that the decision was precautionary in nature and not indicative of his availability, saying, “I feel great about where I’m at. Unfortunately, when you have an injury history like I have, sometimes when you don’t practice, things get, uh, blown out of proportion. But, like I said, I feel great.”

The optimism mirrors similar sentiments displayed a year ago, but Tafur and Barrows point out some differences. They say that last year, McCaffrey was frequently bothered by flare-ups of Achilles tendonitis in both legs, requiring sporadic practice appearances throughout the summer. This year, aside from the occasional veteran rest day, McCaffrey hadn’t needed to limit himself at all until Thursday.

Still, the player and team claim his rest yesterday was done out of an abundance of caution. He warmed up with the team on Friday but worked out with trainers off to the side as a non-participant in practice. He’s listed as questionable for tomorrow afternoon’s season opener in Seattle, but according to multiple sources, he’s not in a lot of pain, and he feels great about where he’s at. Even if he does miss some time, though, the team feels comfortable that newcomer Brian Robinson can help fill in.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/25

September 6th, 2025 at 7:28pm CST by Ely Allen

With our first slate of Sunday games tomorrow, we’ll see our first slew of standard gameday practice squad elevations. Here are today’s minor transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Each NFL team is granted up to two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad who are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from the situation with somebody like Crumedy in Carolina. With Mathis’ placement on injured reserve opening a spot on the 53-man roster, Crumedy has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, where he will remain until he is cut or his contract expires.

Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If a team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, the team will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under the new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.

As the Dolphins await Jason Sanders‘ return from IR, Patterson was named the winner of a kicking audition with three other veteran kickers. Miami will be able to elevate him three times but will have to promote him to the active roster for any games between that and Sanders’ activation. Similarly, Prater will likely be on the same plan in Buffalo.

Haener’s stint on the Saints’ active roster was short-lived as the team decides to move forward with only two quarterbacks. Spencer Rattler will handle starting duties to begin the campaign with second-round rookie Tyler Shough serving as his backup.

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