SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers’ decision to use a third-round draft pick on kicker Jake Moody last year was aimed at securing a reliable solution for their kicking game over the long term. However, Moody’s recent performance has raised uncertainties as he heads into the offseason.
In his last seven games, Moody has missed his sixth field goal attempt, prompting discussions about whether the team might look for a replacement or at least bring in some competition for the upcoming season. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, however, remains supportive of Moody. He believes some of the kicker’s recent difficulties can be attributed to a high ankle sprain he sustained earlier this season.
“I still have confidence in him as our guy,” Shanahan commented. “It’s a tough year for him, and while he started strong, his ankle sprain has impacted his consistency since returning.” Shanahan acknowledges that Moody was performing well before the injury, highlighting the tension between the player’s talent and the challenges he has faced.
Moody kicked off the season strongly, converting all six of his attempts in the opener, and going 13 for 14 before his ankle injury, which occurred during a tackle attempt on a kickoff return in Week 5. After missing three games due to the injury, his performance has dipped. In his first game back in Tampa Bay, he missed three kicks, followed by two misses in snowy Buffalo in Week 13, and last week he couldn’t connect on a 41-yard attempt against the Dolphins.
“The beauty of kicking is that it doesn’t always correlate with talent, and I’ve faced my share of challenges this year,” Moody reflected. “But my confidence remains intact. I’ve had ups and downs throughout my career, and the focus now is on maintaining consistency without making drastic changes.”
In his rookie season, Moody had mixed results, successfully converting 21 of 25 field goal attempts in the regular season and missing only one extra point. However, he faced critical misses during high-stakes moments, including a potential game-winning kick against Cleveland and another miss in playoff victories over Green Bay and Detroit.
He rebounded in the Super Bowl, hitting three field goals, two of which were beyond 50 yards, including a crucial 53-yarder late in the fourth quarter against Kansas City, despite having one extra point blocked during that game.
“I truly believe we have the right kicker in Moody,” Shanahan stated. “He demonstrated his potential during his rookie year and at the start of this season. I have faith that he will regain that form going forward.”
In addition to the concerns surrounding Moody, the team announced that left tackle Trent Williams has been placed on injured reserve due to a slower-than-expected recovery from an ankle injury. Shanahan does not perceive any long-term complications from this issue. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw will finish the season on the sidelines after dealing with a calf injury following a torn Achilles tendon, and offensive lineman Spencer Burford, who has a calf issue, missed practice but might be available for this week’s game. The 49ers have also signed two offensive linemen, Matt Hennessy and Charlie Heck, to bolster their ranks. Running back Isaac Guerendo is dealing with hamstring and foot issues but looks set to return to play soon.
