Zane

Gonzalez

Gonzalez was on injured reserve with a calf injury, but is now free to sign with any team. Kicker Jake Moody is also dealing with a quad injury, and they signed Matthew Wright as a backup option if Moody is unable to go. The 49ers have issues at kicker, but Gonzalez is no longer one of them. The veteran kicker missed all of last season with an injury, but was 20-for-22 on field goal attempts in 2021.

Moody missed the team’s final preseason game with a strained quad and Gonzalez emerged from that contest with a strained calf, meaning the 49ers might be on the hunt for their opening-day place kicker. Both kickers competing for the starting job are considered week-to-week.

Moody hurt his quad in practice and will be held out this weekend in hopes he can be ready for Week 1 against the Steelers. Shockingly taken with the 99th pick in the 2023 draft, Moody — when healthy — will replace longtime Niners kicker Robbie Gould. The rookie should be a viable fantasy option thanks to Kyle Shanahan’s commitment to kicking field goals in the red zone. Zane Gonzalez is the only other kicker on the team’s depth chart.

Moody took over as the Michigan’s primary kicker in 2019, though he managed to set the school record with six made field goals in a game as a freshman in 2018. He stayed at Michigan through 2022 and was consistently one of college football’s most accurate kickers. Moody left school with a Lou Groza Award from 2021 and Michigan’s school record for points in a season and points over a career. With a range that pushes 60 yards and accuracy at all levels, Moody is nearly spotless as a prospect. Moody will compete with Zane Gonzalez for starting duties in Kyle Shanahan’s field goal-happy offense after the Niners parted ways with longtime K Robbie Gould this offseason.

The Panthers were expected to release Gonzalez, who missed all of 2022 to injury. The 49ers needed a kicker after not re-signing Robbie Gould this offseason and will replace him with Gonzalez. The 49ers could add competition for Gonzalez, a 27-year-old coming off a season-ending injury, but he’s likely to be on the Week 1 roster if healthy. Gonzalez was 20-for-22 (91%) on field goals for the Panthers in 2021 and has a career 80.5 field goal percentage.

For some unknown reason it was reported 10 days ago that the Panthers would stick with Gonzalez even after he missed all of 2022 with a groin injury, but the team decided to move forward with Eddy Pineiro on Thursday. The lost season with a leg injury isn’t exactly good news for a kicker, but Gonzalez is 27 with a career 80.5 field goal percentage. That’s not sterling, but it is enough to make him one of the first calls on the workout circuit.

Gonzalez suffered a season-ending groin injury last preseason. Eddy Pineiro took over as Carolina’s kicker and converted 33 of his 35 field goal tries and 30 of his 32 extra point attempts. Carolina had Gonzalez under contract for around $2 million for 2023. In 2021, Gonzalez -- who entered the league in 2017 -- made 20 of 22 field goals for the Panthers. Pineiro will surely catch on with another team this offseason.

Gonzalez was injured in the preseason, and his season (with the Panthers) is now over, though he could later be released with an injury settlement. The Panthers need a new kicker before Week 1.

Gonzalez reportedly injured himself while warming up on the sideline last night. Rhule and company will now be in search of a new kicker for the time being, as Gonzalez is reportedly set to see a specialist in the coming days. Last season, Gonzalez converted 20-of-22 field goals with a long of 57 yards. He also converted 22-of-23 extra points. The Panthers will likely host a handful of kickers in the coming days as they prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Browns.

Gonzalez appeared to have suffered a groin injury during a kicking warmup that prevented him from taking the field to attempt an extra point in the third quarter. Punter Johnny Hekker came on to attempt the point after try, but Gonzalez’s absence would put the Panthers in scramble mode to find a new kicker before their Week 1 matchup against the Browns. We’ll check back in with any new information on Gonzalez’s injury.