49ers could be looking for an Eddy Piñiero replacement

Published October 26, 2026 01:55 PM As the 49ers enter the bye week, they could be thinking about saying farewell to kicker Eddy Piñiero. The veteran kicker missed another extra point in Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. Through seven games, he has missed four extra points and three field goals.

After the game, coach Kyle Shanahan was asked whether the 49ers will work out kickers during the bye week. “ I don’t know ,” he said, “I haven’t talked to anybody about that, we’ll probably discuss on the plane.” On Friday, Shanahan was asked whether he has spoken to Piñiero about the missed kicks.

“No,” Shanahan said. “Not much to discuss. I can make stuff up, but he knows he’s got to make kicks, and we all do.

I’m not going to try to teach him how to do that.” For a team with high aspirations, one missed kick can spell doom. Sunday’s failed extra point left the deficit at 26-20 with 5:05 to play. Which allowed the Falcons to make it a two-score game with a field goal.

Which made it virtually impossible for the 49ers to close the gap when they got the ball down nine points with 1:50 to play.