49ers P Mitch Wishnowsky on NFI list after back injury

Mitch Wishnowsky is dealing with a back injury and will be on the NFI list to start camp. The #49ers aren’t concerned about the punter long-term.

The 49ers will begin training camp without punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who is being placed on the non-football injury list with a back injury.

General manager John Lynch on Tuesday said Wishnowsky injured his back while lifting weights away from the team facility.

Because he didn’t suffer the injury at the facility it’s considered a non-football injury which is why he’s designated for the NFI and not he PUP, though the rules for both are largely the same.

Lynch said the team won’t be trying to find a replacement for Wishnowsky while he’s out.

“No, we don’t with Mitch,” Lynch said. “It’s nothing we’re concerned about long-term, but with a back you want those things to quiet down. If you don’t they become chronic. So we want to put that to rest.”

Wishnowsky has been very good for the 49ers since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft. Last season he inked a four-year extension to stay in San Francisco. He averaged 43.8 yards per kick and finished fourth in the NFL with 38 of his kicks pinning the opposition inside their own 20.

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49ers 1st highlight vs Cardinals is a punt

The #49ers punt team generated a highlight.

Special teams does it again! @SamW0mack

📺 : #SFvsAZ on ESPN
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/WBv0KnzqVd

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 22, 2022

A good indicator of how Monday night’s game is going for the 49ers is that their first highlight of the contest was created by their punt team. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky and safety Tarvarius Moore nearly downed the Cardinals inside the 5 on their first punt. The second time Wishnowsky and cornerback Samuel Womack had more success and the 49ers pinned the Cardinals at their own 4.

49ers P Mitch Wishnowsky is NFC Special Teams Player of the Month

49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is earning the heck out of his contract extension.

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What a month for Mitch Wishnowsky, huh? The 49ers’ 2019 fourth-round pick earned a contract extension before Week 2, and after an excellent performance in Denver in Week 3 he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

Wishnowsky has once again become a field position weapon for the 49ers, something he’s become reliable for during his three-plus seasons in the NFL.

The 30-year-old punter had 14 kicks in the month of September. Eight of them pinned the opposing team inside its own 20. Only two of them were returned for a grand total of six yards.

Kicks inside the 20 that returners don’t have time to make plays on are the ideal punts, and Wishnowsky delivers a lot of them.

Of all the players that got contract extensions, it’s hard to argue anyone has earned theirs more so far this season than the 49ers’ punter.

49ers sign P Mitch Wishnowsky to 4-year extension

A Mitch Wishnowsky extension! #49ers

The first domino has fallen for the 49ers special teams trio of Robbie Gould, Mitch Wishnowsky and Taybor Pepper. All three were due to hit free agency after the 2022 season, but the 49ers on Friday announced Wishnowsky inked a four-year deal to stay with the club through the 2026 season.

Wishnowsky, 30, was a fourth-round pick of the 49ers in 2019 and on the final year of his rookie deal. While the booming yardage may not be there, he’s an excellent directional punter who gets a ton of hangtime, making it difficult for punt returners to run his kicks back.

He planted three of his four punts inside the 20 in the 49ers’ season opener in Chicago, and only one of his four punts was returned. Last season his 29 punts inside the 20 tied for the 10th in the NFL, and his 32.4 percent return rate was the second-lowest in the NFL.

In 2020 he was 11th in kicks inside the 20 and seventh in return percentage after finishing in the middle of the pack in both as a rookie. His improvement over his three-plus seasons earned him another four-year deal. Now the 49ers have decisions to make with the rest of their specialists.

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49ers P Mitch Wishnowsky questionable to return with head injury

#49ers P Mitch Wishnowsky is questionable to return with a head injury.

As if things couldn’t get worse for the 49ers on Sunday, they may have to figure out how to navigate their game without a punter. P Mitch Wishnowsky exited in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and is questionable to return.

Wishnowsky was banged up on a 31-yard Rams punt return where he stuck his nose in to help make a stop in the second quarter. He was evaluated in the medical tent then went to the locker room.

Fullback Kyle Juszczyk would be the holder on kicks if Wishnowsky can’t return. It’s likely that kicker Robbie Gould would handle punts.

Mitch Wishnowsky activated off COVID-19 list among several 49ers roster moves

The #49ers made a bunch of roster moves ahead of their matchup with the Texans.

The 49ers on Saturday announced a slew of roster moves ahead of their Week 17 matchup with the Houston Texans. Most of the alterations involved special teams contributors, including Mitch Wishnowsky’s activation off the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Given San Francisco’s special teams issues this year, it’s a significant deal for them to have their starting punter. Colby Wadman, who hasn’t played in an NFL regular season game since 2019, was added to the practice squad and would’ve taken Wishnowsky’s place.

The 49ers also announced tight end Tanner Hudson was promoted to the active roster, while linebackers Curtis Robinson and Mark Nzeocha were elevated to the roster for Sunday’s game. All three figure to contribute on special teams, but Hudson could see some game action depending on how the 49ers offense operates with Trey Lance under center.

In a corresponding move to clear a roster spot, San Francisco released running back Brian Hill. His spot became expendable with Elijah Mitchell likely to return from a knee injury. Hill was limited to special teams contributions during his stint with the 49ers.

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49ers place P Mitch Wishnowsky on COVID-19 list, add LB to practice squad

The #49ers placed P Mitch Wishnowsky on the COVID-19 list.

The 49ers on Monday announced punter Mitch Wishnowsky was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. They also added linebacker Tyrell Adams to their practice squad after waiving him last week.

Wishnowsky is the first 49ers player to hit the COVID-19 list this season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday told reporters all the close contacts for Wishnowsky were cleared, and his return for Sunday hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday’s game. The club may wind up adding another punter just in case since Wishnowsky’s return will depend on negative tests and whether he has symptoms of the virus.

Adams was with the 49ers’ practice squad before getting elevated to the active roster and seeing action in five games before his release after the team’s Week 15 win over the Falcons. Injuries have been a huge problem at linebacker for San Francisco this season so additional in-house depth is valuable for them.

In five games Adams played just one defensive snap, but he contributed on special teams in all five contests. He notched one tackle.

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Mitch Wishnowsky named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month

#49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky was rewarded for his hot start to the 2021 season.

49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is off to a terrific start in his third professional season. For his efforts he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

Wishnowsky averaged 46.8 yards per punt on 11 kicks with a net average of 43.4 yards. He also dropped eight punts inside the 20-yard line to lead the NFL in that category. He also had six of his 10 kickoffs go for touchbacks.

It could be argued Wishnowsky’s punting helped swing the 49ers’ win over the Eagles when he pinned them twice inside their own 10. Having a player who can consistently pin teams deep will continue to pay dividends for San Francisco, especially if their defense continues to scuffle.

Wishnowsky, a 2019 fourth-round pick, is averaging 46.1 yards per punt in his career. He’s the first 49ers punter to win the Special Teams Player of the Month award.

Candlestick Chronicles: 49ers’ 2019 draft was home run

The 49ers’ 2019 rookies were among the best in the NFL.

The 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl had as much to do with the production of their rookie class than anything else.

Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee and Kyle Madson take a look back at the 49ers’ 2019 draft, and issue grades for each selection with the benefit of hindsight on the 2019 season.

It’s important to remember though that one year doesn’t make a career, and they discuss what each player needs to do moving forward to continue improving.

https://candlestick-chronicles-a-49ers-pod.simplecast.com/episodes/49ers-hit-home-run-in-2019-nfl-draft

49ers 2019 rookie report card

The 49ers badly needed a big-time showing from their rookie class in 2019, and got it from nearly their entire group. Several of the first-year players played prominent roles in San Francisco’s run to Super Bowl 54. Here’s the report card for John …

Here’s the report card for John Lynch’s third rookie class:

DL Nick Bosa

There weren’t many defensive players more dominant than Bosa in his rookie season, and there certainly wasn’t a better first-year defensive player. It’s why the No. 2 overall pick was the runaway winner for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. According to analytics site Pro Football Focus, Bosa registered 102 total pressures and 14 sacks in the regular and postseason. It’s hard to ask for a better showing from a rookie.

Grade: A+

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