While our Seahawks were busy dropping 20 points on the Chiefs last Sunday, it was a different story down south for the San Francisco 49ers, who are wrestling with a kicker crisis of their own. After Eddy Pineiro shanked yet another extra point this past Sunday, the question of tryouts is floating around the Bay Area, and the answers aren’t exactly confidence boosters for the Faithful.
Shanahan and Lynch Ride or Die with Eddy (For Now)
You know it’s a rough spot when the head coach has to field questions about bringing in new legs for special teams. Kyle Shanahan was put on the spot after Pineiro’s latest miss, and his response was, well, pretty noncommittal. He told reporters, “I haven’t discussed it with guys. I haven’t been told that we are. I actually just finished with the team and just finished with the quarterbacks and came in here. As far as I’ve heard, we don’t have any plans on that right now.” Talk about playing it close to the vest. But wait, there’s more. John Lynch, the team’s general manager, doubled down on KNBR Tuesday morning, stating flat out, “We don’t have a kicker tryout.” Lynch elaborated, “We have a lot of belief in Eddy. He has had a tough run early this year, but we extended Eddy for his body of work with us but then throughout the history of his career. He’s going through a rough patch right now. We have belief in Eddy, and we’re going to ride with him.”
Guaranteed Money Means No Easy Out
So, why the unwavering “belief” in a kicker who can’t hit an extra point consistently early this season? Turns out, money talks louder than missed kicks. The Niners are on the hook for a cool $4 million in guaranteed salary to Pineiro in 2027. That’s the final year of guaranteed cash on his deal. It means unless Eddy utterly melts down and leaves them with zero options, he is their guy through 2027. That’s a long time to be holding your breath on every kick. Sure, Pineiro earned some goodwill with a near-perfect 2025 season, but that equity is disappearing faster than a free crab cake at Pike Place Market. Lynch admitted Pineiro is “running out of rope,” and the entire tone around the situation could flip on a dime if he misses a game-deciding kick. That’s a high-stakes gamble for a team hoping to make some noise.
What does it all mean for the 49ers? They’re sticking with their guy, for better or worse, because of that hefty contract. Their immediate future hangs on Pineiro finding his accuracy, or at least not costing them critical points. Here in the Emerald City, we’re watching closely, maybe with a little chuckle, while our Seahawks keep stacking Ws.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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