The 49ers signed veteran kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad on Wednesday after Eddy Piñeiro’s hamstring injury appears likely to keep him out of next week’s primetime game against the Carolina Panthers.
Gay was released Monday by the Washington Commanders after missing two kicks — including what would have been a game-winner from 56 yards out — in an overtime loss to the Dolphins in Madrid, Spain last weekend. He went 2-for-4 in that game, also missing a 51-yard attempt.
On the season, Gay is 13-of-19 on field goals and 22-of-22 on extra points. He kicked the previous two years in Indianapolis and the two years before that for the Los Angeles Rams, making the Pro Bowl in 2021. He is 178-for-212 (84%) on field goals in his career, which included a rookie season with the 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Piñeiro suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in last weekend’s win at Arizona and coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that the 49ers will assess his recovery “week to week,” seemingly indicating that he will miss Monday night’s game against the Panthers.
Piñeiro, a former Panther, has made all 22 field goal attempts since taking over the job from Jake Moody in Week 2. He is 18-of-22 on extra points, including two misses (one block) in the win over the Cardinals.
In order to make room for Gay, the 49ers released wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from the practice squad.