49ers waive kicker Jake Moody after rough season opener

The San Francisco 49ers waived kicker Jake Moody on Tuesday, according to a league source, less than a week after Moody went 1 for 3 on field-goal attempts in the 49ers 17-13 season-opening victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Sept. 7. The move ends a turbulent stretch for the third-year kicker and opens a vacancy at a position where missed points can be costly in a competitive NFC West.

Moody missed a 27-yard attempt that clanged off the left upright and had a 36-yard try blocked in the first half, though he did make a 32-yarder in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 10. San Francisco prevailed despite the special teams miscues, but the short-range miss in particular renewed scrutiny of a player whose inconsistency dates to last season.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan initially defended Moody after the game, saying "No question" when asked if Moody would remain the team's kicker. Shanahan later tempered that stance, saying he was "trying to finish today, get on a plane and evaluate stuff," and that the personnel department would explore options including workouts and practice squad signings. Shanahan also said he did not blame Moody for the blocked attempt,...