Predicting 49ers 53-man roster just before final roster cuts
Specialists (3): K Robbie Gould*, P Mitch Wishnowsky*, LS Colin Holba*
Easy enough here, as both kicker Robbie Gould and punter Mitch Wishnowsky have no competition for their spots and long-snapper Colin Holba’s only concern is whether he’ll lose his job once fellow long snapper Kyle Nelson returns from suspension.
Gould finished last year with his career-high in field goal accuracy at 97.1 percent, including 11-of-12 from 40 yards or longer. He signed a four-year, $19 million contract over the summer, guaranteeing he’ll be part of the team for at least the next two season.
Wishnowsky, the rookie fourth-round pick out of Utah, is fourth in the league this preseason in average per kick at 49.6 and a net average of 42.8. Ten of his 17 punts have landed inside the 20-yard line. And don’t forget his other skills.
As for Holba, it’s a wait and see on what the 49ers decide to do with Nelson, who will cost the team $450,000 in dead money, but allow for $930,000 in cap savings if they cut him after his suspension.