49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Shifts Stance on Struggling Kicker’s Job Security in Surprising Update

The San Francisco 49ers won a thriller to open their season against the Seattle Seahawks, but kicker Jake Moody’s continued struggles were one of the biggest storylines after the game.

Moody, the much-maligned former third-round pick, bounced his first field goal try of the season off the upright from just 27 yards out. He eventually hit a game-tying kick in the fourth quarter from 32 yards out. After his continued struggles, though, it was hard to envision the team moving forward with him.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game there was “no question” Moody would be the kicker in Week 2, but that tune changed Monday when he spoke to reporters on a conference call. The team didn’t have any tryouts Monday. That doesn’t mean Moody’s job is safe.

“We’re looking into all that stuff now,” Shanahan said via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “I mean there’s options just whether it’s stay the status quo, bringing in guys for workouts, practice squad, but we’re going through all that stuff right now. I just finished with the team and I know the personnel department’s going to look into all that stuff and give us those options.”

Moody made only 24 of his 34 kicks last year which prompted a pre-season kicker battle with veteran Greg Joseph. That battle only came to an end when Joseph was let go to help the team bolster its roster at other positions because of injuries. Moody maintained his job after missing multiple kicks in the preseason.

It would be a surprise if the 49ers didn’t at least add a kicker to their practice squad, which Shanahan on Monday told reporters is a possibility. Joseph is still a free agent and would provide a logical answer to either take over the starting kicker job or continue battling for the job with Moody as a practice squad leg.

Whichever way the 49ers decide to go in Week 2, the kicker position is going to continue being a storyline until San Francisco makes a change.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan changes tune on Jake Moody’s job security