Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Simply when it appeared the San Francisco 49ers' kicker competitors was about to warmth up, it reached an abrupt conclusion. At the least for now.
Hit exhausting by accidents up and down the roster within the first two weeks of coaching camp, the Niners launched veteran kicker Greg Joseph on Monday. That call clears the decks for incumbent Jake Moody to retain the job as he enters his third NFL season.
“I might have cherished to maintain (Joseph) longer and allowed them to play that out longer,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “However we had 13 guys out of form at this time. We have got 5 guys on PUP. It is simply too many individuals to have that luxurious. It is superior to have two kickers and have them battle however they're probably not guys to take reps. We want extra individuals to take reps for us.”
The 49ers had excessive hopes for Moody once they drafted him within the third spherical out of Michigan in 2023. He is had his share of ups and downs since, struggling mightily over the again half of final season.
Moody made simply 11-of-20 area purpose makes an attempt after getting back from a excessive ankle sprain in Week 10 on his approach to rating thirty fifth within the NFL in area purpose share amongst kickers with no less than 10 makes an attempt.
These struggles opened the door for a possible change with the Niners signing Joseph in Might with the thought of making a contest. Joseph and Moody alternated reps throughout the particular groups' interval in every observe with Joseph connecting on 22-of-24 with Moody making 21-of-24 within the particular groups' intervals open to media.
On Friday, particular groups coach Brant Boyer stated the competitors was “actually shut.”
“I believe that they are each doing an excellent job,” Boyer stated. “There's not a ton of separation there. Each of them rebounded from some days that they might have kicked higher… They're doing every little thing we're asking them to do and we're trying ahead to see how it is going to shake out.”
Because it turned out, different roster machinations made it so retaining two kickers was not tenable. In Monday's observe, the Niners didn't have the providers of cornerback Renardo Inexperienced (hamstring), receiver Jauan Jennings (calf), receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring), working again Christian McCaffrey (relaxation day), security Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle), working again Isaac Guerendo (shoulder), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (heel), defensive deal with Evan Anderson (knee bruise), left deal with Trent Williams (relaxation day), defensive deal with Kevin Givens (pectoral), defensive finish Sam Okuayinonu (groin) and defensive finish Nick Bosa (relaxation day). Working again Jordan James (knee) was additionally restricted and that does not even account for the others – receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), security Malik Mustapha (knee), offensive deal with Andre Dillard (ankle) and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) – who stay on the bodily unable to carry out record.
If there's excellent news to be discovered on that prolonged record, it is that almost all of these accidents aren't thought of long run. Shanahan stated Givens can be out the longest, anticipating him to overlook a piece of the season with a pec harm. Givens was anticipated to, at minimal, stay a outstanding a part of the defensive deal with rotation. Juszczyk, Anderson and Brown are thought of everyday with Guerendo and Okuayinonu anticipated to overlook two to a few weeks.
All these lacking gamers means the Niners wanted extra our bodies, particularly this week once they have a joint observe with the Denver Broncos set for Thursday and the preseason opener in opposition to them on Saturday evening.
The 49ers had so many accidents final preseason that they canceled joint practices with the New Orleans Saints however they're anticipating to be able to work with the Broncos this 12 months.
“We'll should be sensible at some positions,” Shanahan stated. “I am positive they've some points, too. I am going to speak to Sean (Payton) the day earlier than. It is such good work that we'll discover a approach to make it work.”
As for whether or not the kicking competitors may reignite if and when the Niners get wholesome, Shanahan indicated that the microscope would stay on Moody with an emphasis on getting him going. Shanahan stated Moody is “kicking the ball actual nicely” however acknowledged that their eyes will stay open because the preseason strikes alongside.
“Whether or not you may have one kicker within the constructing or two, kickers all the time know they're competing with whoever is on the market,” Shanahan stated. “So, I do not see it a lot totally different.”
