49ers clarify kicker, quarterback depth chart with wave of roster moves
SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody needed less than two weeks of training camp to dispose of his competition and remain the 49ers’ kicker.
It wasn’t only him, however. Injuries are sidelining so many 49ers they can’t afford to use two roster spots on kickers and prolong this camp’s most notorious job competition, even before Saturday’s preseason opener.
Greg Joseph, who seemingly was in a tight race with Moody, was released Monday in a string of moves before practice.
“It shows he’s kicking the ball real well right now. So was Greg, too,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after practice. “Moody has a lot of talent, has been kicking the ball very well, and hopefully that continues.”
The 49ers’ need for reinforcements at other spots also resulted in quarterback Tanner Mordecai, tight end Mason Pline, wide receiver Isaiah Neyor and cornerback Tre Avery getting waived.
“It’s more just roster numbers. Would love to have kept (Joseph) longer,” Shanahan said. “We had 13 (players) out today and 5 on (the Physically Unable To Perform list). It’s too many people to have that luxury. We need more people to take reps.”
The kicker competition is never done. “Kickers always know they’re competing with whoever is out there (in free agency). I don’t see it much different,” Shanahan added.
The kicking competition was a spectacle, however brief it was, considering Moody’s sophomore slump last year and the 49ers’ widespread offensive and special teams changes this offseason. Through nine practices, Moody made 21 of 24 field-goal attempts and Joseph was 22 of 24. Moody was the only one to miss in Saturday’s four-attempt shift.
“There’s not a ton of separation there. Both rebounded from days they could have kicked better,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said after that practice. “They kicked pretty solid today. It’s a matter of who’s going to execute when the game comes.”
Moody attempted all the 49ers’ field-goal attempts the past two preseasons. He went unchallenged last year after a 2023 competition with Zane Gonzalez, who sustained a calf injury warming up for the preseason finale.
QUARTERBACK SHUFFLE
Mordecai was poised to serve as the No. 3 quarterback behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones, but the 49ers last Thursday signed Carter Bradley, an undrafted rookie last year with the Raiders and the son of 49ers assistant head coach Gus Bradley.
“We brought him in not to make a move that day, did but he did so well in (last Wednesday’s workout that I went back and watched film,” Shanahan said. “We wanted him in here to compete with Tanner, and some things that happened in practice with D-linemen (injuries), we didn’t have the luxury of having two.”
Bradley ended Monday’s practice some 10 minutes early by connecting with Tarique Owens down the right sideline for a would-be walk-off touchdown.
INJURY UPDATES
Running back Isaac Guerendo will miss multiple weeks because of a right-shoulder injury he sustained in Saturday’s kick-return drill. With Christian McCaffrey resting and Jordan James (knee) also out Monday, the 49ers’ only rushers in practice were Patrick Taylor Jr., Ameer Abdullah and Corey Kiner.
*Fullback Kyle Juszczyk is considered day-to-day and watched practice with a compression sleeve on his lower right leg. “He got his Achilles stepped on, cut it, and it’s sore,” Shanahan said of Juszczyk’s injury in a one-on-one route Saturday with Dee Winters.
*Defensive tackle Kevin Givens sustained a pectoral injury for the second straight year and will be sidelined into the season, Shanahan said, perhaps signaling an Injured Reserve assignment.
*Safety Ji’Ayir Brown was kept out of practice after his surgically repaired ankle flared up on him. He could return for Thrusday’s practice.
*Defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (groin; out multiple weeks) and defensive tackle Evan Anderson (knee bruise) missed practice.
*Wide receiver and returner Andy Isabella (ankle) left early in punt-return drills. “Hopefully it’s not too bad,” Shanahan said.
* Defensive end Nick Bosa rested for a second straight practice, and also given the day off were running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams. All are expected to practice Tuesday before Wednesday’s light walk-through ahead of Thursday’s joint practice with Denver.
*Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir made a first-string cameo in his return after a three-practice absence (hip).
JENNINGS’ INJURY
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings remains out of practice and virtually out of sight since aggravating a calf injury two Sundays ago. “You’ve got to be delicate with those calves,” Shanahan said.
Asked if Jennings’ prolonged absence is due to his health or his request for a contract extension, Shanahan suggested Jennings be asked that question; Jennings has not been made available to the media through two weeks of camp.
PEARSALL-STOUT BATTLE
Rookie nickel back Upton Stout fired up the defense by breaking up a Brock Purdy pass toward Ricky Pearsall near the sideline. Pearsall earlier caught a Purdy pass that Stout stripped away, but officials ruled the play dead ahead of that takeaway.
“He’s putting me on game, going against him every practice, seeing the tempo and how fast he gets out of breaks and how strong his hands are,” said Stout, noting his rookie-learning process included reaching out to former 49ers nickel back K’Waun Williams this offseason.
Stout and two other defensive backs let Pearsall get behind them early in practice to nab a 50-yard bomb from Mac Jones that led him to the far pylon, though there was no pylon.
PUNI ON ROOKIE LINEMEN
A year after seizing the starting right guard spot as a rookie, Dominick Puni is now having to block and size up a wave of “aggressive, powerful, strong, quick-off-the-ball” rookie defensive linemen. His scouting report:
On first-round pick Mykel Williams: “He is a (heck) of a player. He is what they drafted and got what they’re looking for in him. They do a good job bringing him on third down and making him (an inside rusher).”
On second-round defenisve tackle Alfred Collins: “Alfred is just the largest person ever (at 6-foot-5, 332 pounds). He’s a problem. He takes up two people at a time. He’s hard to move, man.”
On fourth-round defensive tackle C.J. West: “Very powerful person. Can a block very easily. He just has to get comfortable in the defense.”
NEW ADDITIONS
Defensive linemen Bradlee Anae and Bruce Hector, safety Jaylen Mahoney, cornerback Fabian Moreau and offensive tackle Isaiah Prince were signed to one-year deals.