No NFL team wants to lose its kicker in the middle of a game.
The San Francisco 49ers watched kicker Jake Moody go down with an injury in the first half of Sunday’s upset loss to the Arizona Cardinals. What happened to Moody, and how will the 49ers handle their kicking situation moving forward?
What Happened to 49ers Kicker Jake Moody in Week 5?
Moody was injured after kicking off to the Cardinals with roughly five minutes remaining in the second quarter of Sunday’s game.
Moody tried to make a tackle, but his right ankle got trapped underneath his body. He immediately began grabbing at his lower leg before he eventually made his way off the field.
Moody hopped to San Francisco’s bench and was then carted off the sideline and into the 49ers’ locker room for further evaluation.
#49ers Jake Moody injuries his kicking leg on this tackle attempt.pic.twitter.com/qAPvOia2jv
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2024
The 49ers soon after announced that Moody was questionable to return with an ankle injury.
Mitch Wishnowsky, the Niners’ punter, replaced Moody as San Francisco’s kicker, nailing a 26-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Fullback Kyle Juszcyzk, considered an emergency kicking option, took over for Wishnowsky as the 49ers’ holder on the FG attempt.
Wishnowsky had previously kicked before but missed his only career field-goal attempt and converted one of two extra-point attempts in a 2021 game.
Moody, San Francisco’s third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had hit 11 of 12 field-goal attempts entering Week 5. His only miss was a 55-yard try near the end of the 49ers’ Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Moody made both of his field-goal attempts in Week 5 before departing.
He, unfortunately, never returned against the Cardinals. His absence was felt late in the third quarter when the 49ers passed up a 45-yard field goal on 4th-and-23 while leading 23-13. San Francisco eventually lost to Arizona by one point, 24-23.
After the 49ers’ loss, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Moody suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Hear from Kyle Shanahan and players following #AZvsSF. https://t.co/JryCFPXUsJ
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 6, 2024
The 49ers will immediately search for a kicker to replace Moody.
“Yeah, they’ll work on that stuff right away,” Shanahan said. “With kickers, they’re almost independent contractors, so we’ll get them in as fast as possible and get the best guy we can.
“I’m sure it’ll have to be for a few weeks. I’m not sure (about the severity of Moody’s injury), but I know they told me a high ankle, and that’s never soon.”
The 49ers had kickers Matthew Wright and Zane Gonalez on their offseason roster in 2023, and both are currently available on the free agent market. Other unsigned kickers include Brandon McManus, Randy Bullock, Riley Patterson, and Anders Carlson.
Fantasy Implications of Moody’s Injury
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a team lose its kicker mid-game. The New York Giants experienced this earlier this season, and it cost them in a tight Week 2 loss to the Washington Commanders. Unfortunately for the 49ers, it played a major role in their loss to the Cardinals.
Moody has been one of the better kickers in the league. With him expected to miss weeks, the 49ers’ expected field-goal range could shrink drastically, as they likely won’t trust their new kicker beyond 50 yards. That slightly benefits all offensive players, as San Francisco is more likely to go for it on fourth downs.
If Moody has to miss any time moving forward, fantasy football managers should just drop him and pick up a healthy kicker.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Jason Katz
