In a turn of events leading up to a much-anticipated rematch of Super Bowl LVIII, Anders Carlson will step in as the San Francisco 49ers’ kicker against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The former Auburn standout, who was previously with the Green Bay Packers, was signed to the 49ers’ practice squad earlier this week following a series of injuries to the team’s primary kickers.
Carlson’s opportunity comes after both Jake Moody and Matthew Wright were sidelined due to injuries. Moody, who sustained a high ankle sprain during a 24-23 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on October 6, missed last Sunday’s 36-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. In his place, Wright handled kicking duties but unfortunately suffered a shoulder injury during the game. With Wright now on injured reserve and Moody still listed as week-to-week, Carlson has been elevated from the practice squad just in time for this high-profile clash with the Chiefs.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan addressed the situation earlier this week, expressing cautious optimism about Carlson’s readiness. “Wright is hurt worse than we expected, so he can’t get back. And Jake Moody is still week-to-week with a high ankle sprain. Not expecting him next week either, but hopefully, after the bye,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers brought Carlson in as a reliable option, hoping he can fill the void left by both injured kickers. While Carlson was not expected to take on the role this quickly, his background and experience make him a suitable choice for such a critical matchup. However, Shanahan hopes Carlson won’t be forced into situations like making tackles on kickoffs, which contributed to the injuries of both Moody and Wright. “Definitely is allowed to,” Shanahan said when asked if Carlson might have to attempt a kickoff tackle, “but it’s only in case of emergency, so I hope he isn’t attacking anything.”
Carlson, who played his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers in 2023, had his share of ups and downs. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and displaced veteran kicker Mason Crosby. Despite becoming the first rookie in NFL history to make a field goal in all 17 regular-season games, Carlson struggled with consistency, especially on extra points. He missed six extra points and had a total of 13 missed kicks throughout the season. In his debut season, he went 27-of-33 on field-goal attempts and 34-of-39 on extra points during the regular season.
The postseason was bittersweet for Carlson. In a second-round playoff game against none other than the 49ers, he missed a critical 41-yard field goal late in the game. San Francisco capitalized on that miss with a go-ahead touchdown drive that ended the Packers’ season. Now, Carlson finds himself on the other side of that rivalry, ready to help.
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