Watching a San Francisco 49ers preseason game these days feels like sitting through a summertime slasher flick: You wince, you cover your eyes, you squirm in your seat, praying for the credits to roll. That was the scene on Saturday in Las Vegas, where an already injury-depleted 49ers squad saw three more players go down, including starting right guard Dominick Puni. But the real heart-pounding drama came from kicker Jake Moody, who had fans’ pulses racing until the final seconds.
A Rocky Start in Vegas
Las Vegas has been a peculiar stage for Moody. In his 2023 preseason debut there, he missed two field goals, setting an uneasy tone for his rookie year. By the end of that season, he redeemed himself in the Super Bowl, nailing three field goals, including long ones from 53 and 55 yards, though a missed extra point in the overtime loss stung. Fast forward to Saturday, and Moody’s performance was a rollercoaster that could’ve been titled I Know How You Kicked This Summer.
The game started innocently enough. Moody capped the opening drive with a 30-yard field goal that sailed straight down the middle—wholesome, family-friendly stuff. But the plot thickened on his next attempt, a 53-yarder that veered wide left, nowhere near the uprights. His third kick, a 26-yard chip shot, barely squeaked inside the left upright, leaving fans doubting it would’ve been good from even a yard further. For 49ers faithful still haunted by Moody’s inconsistent 2024, the squirming began. Social media erupted with calls to bring back Greg Joseph, shouts of “The kid has no confidence!” and pleas to head coach Kyle Shanahan to abandon Moody before the regular season.
The Comeback Kid
Like any good horror movie villain, though, Moody refuses to stay down. The 49ers may have ended his training camp competition with Joseph early—perhaps prematurely—but Saturday’s game was a high-stakes redemption arc. Midway through the fourth quarter, Moody drilled a 50-yard field goal to tie the game at 16-16. With 37 seconds left, he tied it again with a wobbly but successful 44-yarder. Then came the climactic moment: with four seconds on the clock, Moody lined up at the Raiders’ midfield logo for a 59-yard game-winner.
Moody’s offseason tweak to his kicking technique—switching from a three-step to a two-step approach to quicken his release—had raised concerns about his distance. Those fears were obliterated as his 59-yarder soared through, a few feet inside the left upright and clearing the crossbar with room to spare. As time expired, teammates Brock Purdy, Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Trent Williams mobbed him in celebration, a testament to the moment’s weight, even in a meaningless August game.
Shanahan’s Confidence
Postgame, Shanahan brushed off any doubts about his kicker. “I think [Moody] going 4-for-5 and hitting a 59-yarder—and a 50-yarder—I think that was a hell of a day for him,” he said. “I think he kicked his ass off. And it gives [us] a lot of confidence.” For a team battered by injuries, Moody’s clutch performance was a rare bright spot.
Injury Woes Mount
Shanahan’s bigger worry is the 49ers’ shrinking roster as they limp toward their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Dominick Puni, a 17-game starter as a rookie last year, suffered a sprained PCL when Matt Hennessy was pushed into the back of his leg during Moody’s first field goal. Shanahan estimated Puni would miss “a few weeks” but could return for the Week 1 matchup in Seattle. Running backs Patrick Taylor Jr. (dislocated shoulder) and Corey Kiner (high-ankle sprain) will also be sidelined for weeks, joining Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and Jordan James (finger) on the injury list. This leaves newcomers Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Jeff Wilson Jr. as the primary backups to Christian McCaffrey.
“It could be worse,” Shanahan said. “All those guys will be back. We’ve been here before. You can never have too many backs, and we’ve got a number of them. And we haven’t lost anyone for the year yet.”
The Kicker Stays in the Picture
Moody’s performance, flaws and all, ensures he remains the 49ers’ kicker for now. His ability to deliver under pressure, especially on that 59-yard dagger, suggests he’s tougher to kill off than a horror movie villain. As the regular season looms, fans may still wince at his misses, but Moody’s clutch kicks prove he’s not going anywhere—ready to haunt or heroically save the 49ers’ season.