The San Francisco 49ers will be using their third kicker in as many games when they face the Kansas City Chiefs. Starting kicker Jake Moody suffered a high-ankle sprain during a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. His replacement, Matthew Wright, was then injured on a similar play, this time with a shoulder injury.
As a result, the 49ers have promoted Anders Carlson from the practice squad. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed on October 18 that Wright’s injury is worse than initially thought.
“Matt Wright is going on IR. He’s worse than we expected, so he won’t be back. Jake Moody is still week-to-week with the high-ankle sprain. We don’t expect him back next week either, but hopefully after the bye,” Shanahan said.
When asked about Carlson’s tackling ability, Shanahan clarified that while Carlson is allowed to tackle, it’s not the preferred option.
“He can tackle, but only in an emergency,” Shanahan stated. “I hope he won’t have to, but if it’s between giving up a touchdown or making a play, we’ll choose to stop the touchdown. Hopefully, he stays out of harm’s way.”
Carlson’s Background
Anders Carlson, known for his time at Auburn in the SEC, has only one year of NFL experience. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he played for the Green Bay Packers during the 2023 season. His rookie year was rocky, as he made just 81.7% of his field-goal attempts and 34 of 39 extra points.
Carlson also struggled in the Packers’ two playoff games, missing a field goal against the 49ers and an extra point against the Cowboys. Released during the 2024 preseason, the 49ers signed him in free agency.
Carlson’s inconsistency, particularly from long range and on PATs, is a concern. He made just 54% of his attempts from 40 yards or more, and missed six PATs last season. While he can fill the role, the 49ers may hesitate to rely on him in high-pressure situations.
Ricky Pearsall’s Return
On the positive side, the 49ers will have rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall back against the Chiefs. Pearsall, who was shot in an incident in August, has fully recovered and is returning sooner than expected, according to Shanahan.
Shanahan had initially planned a slower return, but Pearsall’s performance in practice accelerated the timeline.
“I wanted to see how he looked out there with the team,” Shanahan said. “Wednesday, he looked great, Thursday was even better, and today he’s even more comfortable. That made the decision easy.”
With veteran wide receiver Jauan Jennings out for the game, Pearsall’s return is timely for San Francisco.
