For the second time this year, the San Francisco 49ers are looking for a kicker.
Veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro, who had quietly become one of the team’s most reliable players, suffered a hamstring injury in San Francisco’s Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He’s expected to miss time. Head coach Kyle Shanahan described the injury as a week-to-week situation, leaving the 49ers searching for an immediate contingency plan.
That’s why the Niners arranged a workout with 27-year-old John Parker Romo, a strong-legged kicker who has bounced around on both NFL rosters and spring leagues. The Athletic’s Matt Barrows was first to report the workout.
With Eddy Pineiro Injured, 49ers Bring Kicker John Parker Romo in for Workout
Pineiro, signed in September after the team cut Jake Moody, had been close to automatic since taking over the job. He entered Week 12 without a missed field goal attempt in a 49ers uniform, including a season-long 59-yarder and two game-winners.
Pineiro’s impact can be seen not just on the scoreboard, but also in Shanahan’s late-game decision making. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in October and has arguably become one of the most efficient kickers in football this year.
Romo most recently kicked for the Atlanta Falcons, where he went 11-14 on field goal attempts earlier this season, with his longest make from 54 yards out. With San Francisco staring at a postseason push in their remaining games, the stakes will be fairly high for whichever kicker Shanahan and company decide on.
The 28-year-old Romo has bounced around a lot, spending time on the practice squads of the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. He played four games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, and has also spent time with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. He went 11-12 on his field goal tries with the Vikings, with his longest from 55 yards out.
Should the 49ers Sign Controversial Kicker Justin Tucker?
Greg Fiume/Getty ImagesKicker Justin Tucker was released by the Baltimore Ravens in May amid an NFL investigation into sexual misconduct. He’s now available for any team, including the San Francisco 49ers, to sign.
The 49ers also have other options, although none of them are great.
Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is available. Tucker remains unsigned and is eligible to return following a league suspension due to allegations of inappropriate conduct from multiple massage therapists between 2012 and 2016.
Tucker has denied wrongdoing, but the NFL suspended him for 10 games, and his future remains a question mark. Strictly from a performance standpoint, Tucker would be the most accomplished available option for the Niners. He’s a five-time first-team All-Pro, and he’s won a Super Bowl where his leg was a huge factor.
Although his numbers dipped in 2024, he still owns one of the most accurate career marks in league history and is still a free agent. Any pursuit of him, though, is bound to come with scrutiny and criticism, which is understandable.
For now, San Francisco appears intent on hoping Piñeiro returns sooner than later, while looking for emergency depth. The timeline of Eddy’s recovery will likely dictate whether the team takes a more conservative approach or considers a more aggressive swing. If they want to be aggressive, adding Tucker would certainly qualify.
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