Eddy Pineiro’s latest miss has put the San Francisco 49ers right back where they don’t want to be: staring at a kicking problem with no easy patience left.
Pineiro pushed an extra point wide left in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, marking his seventh missed kick of the season in as many weeks. With the 49ers still positioned as real contenders for the NFC’s top spot and a first-round bye, Kyle Shanahan may not have much room to keep waiting. The timing stings even more because this is familiar territory for San Francisco after going through a similar situation with Jake Moody a little over a year ago.
If the 49ers decide to move on, there are free-agent options available right now.
One name at the top of that list is Graham Gano. The veteran has built a reputation for handling pressure, and his playoff résumé backs that up: he has made 13 of 16 field goal attempts in the postseason over a 16-year career.
Gano has also converted 18 of his last 21 field goals dating back to 2024, and he has not missed an extra point since 2022. Compared with Pineiro, who has already missed four PATs this season, Gano would give San Francisco a cleaner, steadier hand.
Matt Prater is another possibility, and the age on the back of his football card only tells part of the story. The 42-year-old would be entering his 20th season in 2026 if he plays, and he was still highly effective last year, making 90.0 percent of his field goal attempts. Prater’s experience in Denver and Buffalo also gives him the kind of cold-weather background that could matter if the 49ers end up kicking in rough conditions once winter hits.
If San Francisco wants something more durable beyond the immediate moment, Riley Patterson offers a different kind of solution. He has bounced around the league, playing for six teams in six years, but the production has been there: an 86.6 career field goal percentage.
Over the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Patterson went 34 for 38 on field goals and missed only two of 41 total PATs. At 27, he also profiles as a kicker who could stick if he proves reliable, giving the 49ers a more permanent answer at a spot that has given Shanahan headaches for years.
In Other News...
49ers First Loss Made One Thing About This Roster Impossible To Ignore
The first loss of the 2026 season did not come with much room for comfort, even if the 49ers still sit in control of the NFC West at 6-1 heading into Week 9. San Franciscos undefeated start and six-game road winning streak both ended in Atlanta, and the defeat came with the sort of issues that tend to travel with a team until they get cleaned up: shaky ball security, a pass rush that could not create enough disruption, and a game plan that had to survive through several key injuries.
Christian McCaffrey was part of the injury storyline, briefly leaving with a thigh scare before returning, which only added to the feeling that this was one of those Sundays where everything got tested at once. The bye week now arrives at a useful time for the 49ers, giving them a chance to reset physically and sort through a loss that exposed just how thin the margin can be when the core pieces are not fully at ease. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Halloween Party Turns Viral Scandal Into A Locker Room Debate
A recent Halloween gathering around the 49ers turned into more than a costume party when the teams festivities brushed up against one of the years stranger viral stories. Daejon Love, whose arrest and federal case made headlines after authorities said he ran fake investment schemes that targeted more than two dozen women, has become a familiar name far beyond the financial-crime beat, and the topic was apparently impossible to avoid once the 49ers started putting together their looks.
At least two San Francisco players leaned into the reference, with one showing up in a jersey and another in a jail outfit, turning a serious off-field case into the kind of locker-room debate that can follow a team long after the music stops. It was a reminder that viral stories have a way of bleeding into NFL culture quickly, especially when the subject already comes with enough controversy to make a Halloween costume feel like commentary. [Read more 🡒]
Mac Jones Keeps Giving 49ers Fans A Reason To Watch This Story
Mac Jones gave 49ers fans another reason to pay attention this week, even if it had nothing to do with a pass rush or a playbook. During an appearance on The Kittle Things podcast, the quarterback opened up about his dating preferences, saying he is attracted to smart women and adding a humorous line about seafood restaurants that fit the lighter tone of the interview. It was a reminder that Jones can still command a spotlight in San Francisco, where every conversation around the backup quarterback seems to carry a little extra weight.
John Lynch only added to the intrigue when he addressed the trade chatter around Jones, pointing to the teams strong quarterback room and the value of having depth in place. Jones started eight games for the 49ers last season and threw for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, enough production to keep his name in the mix whenever other teams come calling. For now, the 49ers appear content to hold the position steady, even if the phone keeps ringing. [Read more 🡒]