49ers coach Kyle Shanahan expresses confidence in struggling kicker Jake Moody

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was that it would determine their kicker position for years to come.

A shaky second half of Moody’s second season with San Francisco has put that in question heading into the offseason.

Moody missed his sixth field goal in the past seven games last week, leading to questions about whether the 49ers will have to replace him or at least bring competition into next season.

Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in Moody on Thursday, attributing some of the struggles to a high ankle sprain he suffered in his kicking leg earlier in the season.

“I still feel the same way about him, that I believe he’s going to be our guy,” Shanahan said. “Everybody has to perform and do stuff like that, and I think he’s had a tough year. … I thought he did really well and then got a high ankle sprain to his kicking foot. Since he’s come back, he’s obviously haven’t been that consistent, but I think a lot of it has to do with it, just common sense.

Moody got off to a strong start this season, making all six field goals he attempted in the season opener and going 13 for 14 before injuring his ankle while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return in Week 5.

He missed three games and has struggled since returning. He missed three field goals in the first opener back in Tampa Bay, two more in the snow at Buffalo in Week 13 and then a 41-yarder last week against the Dolphins.

“That’s the great thing about kicking, you can be as talented as anybody and you can fight,” Moody said. “I feel like this year I’ve struggled. It doesn’t knock my confidence or anything. I feel like throughout my life I’ve been through struggles, I’ve been through highs. The biggest thing is just staying consistent, not changing anything .”

Moody had an up-and-down rookie season, making 21 of 25 field goals in the regular season and missing just one extra point. But he missed a potential game-winning kick in a loss at Cleveland and missed field goals in playoff wins against Green Bay and Detroit.

Moody then made three field goals in the Super Bowl, two of which came from more than 50 yards, including a 53-yard kick late in the fourth quarter against Kansas City. But Moody also had an extra point blocked in that game.

“I believe we have the right guy, and I think at the end I think he’s shown that at times,” Shanahan said. “I thought he showed it at times his rookie year. I thought he showed it big with 12 out of 13 starts this year. And I think he’ll show us all that in the future.”

NOTES: Niners placed LT Trent Williams on IR after his ankle injury hasn’t healed as quickly as hoped. Shanahan didn’t think there were any long-term problems. … LB Dre Greenlaw (calf) will be shut down for the rest of the season after playing parts of two games in his return from a torn left Achilles tendon. … OL Spencer Burford (calf) did not practice but may play this week. … San Francisco signed two Olympians this week, Matt Hennessy and Charlie Heck add. … RB Isaac Guerendo (hamstring, foot) was limited but appears on track to play this week.

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