49ers Add Kicker Insurance as Pineiro Battles Illness Ahead of Week 2

The 49ers will add a kicker to their active roster before Sunday's matchup, a move born from necessity rather than long-term concern. Eddy Pineiro, who inked a four-year, $17 million deal with San Francisco over the offseason, has not participated in practice this week due to illness and is listed as questionable on the injury report. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed the team will sign a free agent kicker as insurance, with the new arrival expected in time for kickoff.

Pineiro's absence is a tactical precaution, not a signal of organizational doubt. The 49ers committed significant dollars to him—a vote of confidence that extends beyond this single week. Last season, he missed only five kicks across 14 games in a 49ers uniform: one field goal and four extra points. His Week 1 performance in Melbourne set the tone: 2-for-3 on field goals and a perfect 3-for-3 on point-after attempts. The team's historical struggles at the kicker position make his consistency especially valuable.

San Francisco's cap situation—$44.1 million available—means the insurance signing carries no financial friction. The move is purely about risk management. A veteran kicker on the roster gives Kyle Shanahan operational flexibility; if Pineiro's illness lingers or worsens, the 49ers avoid the chaos of elevating practice-squad personnel mid-week or forcing a raw talent into live-game situations. The defense, running backs, and pass catchers can operate without special teams uncertainty.

For prop bettors, the angle is straightforward: Pineiro's availability status matters more than the backup's presence. If Pineiro is cleared to play by Sunday, his field-goal and extra-point volume should track his established baseline—a model that has held across 14 games with San Francisco. If the illness forces him into the backup role, the substitute kicker introduces variance that books have not yet priced. Monitor Friday's practice report closely. A full practice participation from Pineiro on Friday signals he'll play Sunday; limited or no participation suggests the backup takes primary duties, which compresses Pineiro's kicker points upside and creates uncertainty on any game-total or team-total projections tied to special teams efficiency.