5 problems 49ers have to overcome in Week 10 vs. Seahawks
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Overcoming the Potential Absence of Robbie Gould
Likewise on the injury front, Kyle Shanahan ruled veteran kicker Robbie Gould as doubtful, as he’s dealing with a strained quad.
Gould hasn’t exactly been a lock-down specialist for San Francisco this season, converting just 65 percent of his field-goal tries so far. But with the return of long-snapper Kyle Nelson from his 10-game suspension for PED use, the hope was the 49ers solidified what has been a reliable special teams battery the past few years.
If Gould isn’t available, however, it could be another aspect the Niners have to overcome.
San Francisco inked rookie kicker Chase McLaughlin to potentially fill in for Gould in this contest, perhaps beyond, too. McLaughlin managed to make six of his nine field-goal tries, previously, with the Los Angeles Chargers before he was let go.
Yet McLaughlin could be the key difference maker for San Francisco, should the game end up being that close.
Remember, Gould’s late overtime field goal won the game for the 49ers over the Seahawks the last time these two teams met. While the context is entirely different, a crucial game winner might be what the Niners need from McLaughlin.