49ers Stick with Kicker Eddy Pineiro Amidst Struggles

Despite a string of missed extra points and inconsistent field goal performance, the San Francisco 49ers are not actively seeking to replace kicker Eddy Pineiro. Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated Monday that the team has no current plans to hold tryouts for other kickers during the upcoming bye week.

Pineiro, who signed a four-year, $17 million contract extension in the offseason, has struggled this season after a highly successful initial period with the team. Last year, Pineiro made 28 of 29 field goal attempts, a 96.6% success rate, which was the best in NFL history at the time of his signing with the 49ers in Week 2.

This season, however, has seen a decline in Pineiro's performance. He has missed four of his 25 extra-point attempts and has connected on six of nine field goal tries. His latest missed extra point came on Sunday in Atlanta during the 49ers' 29-20 loss to the Falcons.

The missed extra point in Atlanta was particularly notable. It occurred after a touchdown that would have cut the Falcons' lead to 26-20. Had the kick been successful, the 49ers would have been within a single score, requiring only a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game later.

Shanahan addressed the decision not to attempt a field goal earlier in the fourth quarter when facing a fourth-and-10 from the Falcons' 23-yard line. He explained that the scoreline at the time, with the 49ers trailing by two touchdowns, made a field goal less appealing than attempting to convert for a first down. Quarterback Brock Purdy was sacked on the play, turning the ball over on downs.

Despite Pineiro's current struggles, the financial implications of releasing him are significant. Cutting him this season would result in $6 million in dead cap money for the 49ers next year, a factor that may contribute to the team's decision to stand by him for now.