The San Francisco 49ers’ gameplan was dealt a curveball Sunday when kicker Jake Moody suffered an ankle damage on a kickoff within the second quarter in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky took over kicking duties after Moody was dominated out.
Wishnowsky, who was 0-for-1 in profession area aim makes an attempt and two-for-four PATs coming into Sunday, hit a 26-yard area aim on the finish of the second quarter, placing the 49ers up 23-10.
Wishnowsky’s responsibility as holder fell on the broad shoulders of fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who was additionally seen warming up his leg and kicking balls right into a web on the sideline after Moody’s damage.
Alright mate! Mitch Wishnowsky’s first profession FG 🙌
📺 #AZvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/gsk60LBQMU— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 6, 2024
Moody, who’s 13-of-14 on area aim makes an attempt this season, was injured when he tried to make a cease on kick returner DeeJay Dallas’ 39-yard return.
Moody’s damage occurred simply after a uncommon particular groups triumph for the 49ers — a blocked area aim that Deommodore Lenoir returned for a 61-yard landing. It might have been extra luck than something. Defensive sort out Jordan Elliott raised his proper hand at simply the precise second and struck down Chad Ryland’s 45-yard try.
For essentially the most half, particular groups have been disastrous for the 49ers this season with a blocked punt, a pretend punt, a consequential punt return and a fumbled kickoff all occurring to their detriment within the final three video games. Moody’s damage provides to that record of points.
#49ers Kicker Jake Moody was capable of stroll off the sector on his personal after struggling an obvious damage on the earlier play 🙏 pic.twitter.com/cpPgW1NRU2
— FOX Sports activities: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024
The dynamic kickoff made its debut this season. The brand new kickoff was designed to revive the joy of performs within the return recreation, whereas additionally reducing the danger of damage with fewer high-speed collisions whereas lowering touchbacks.
The brand new kickoff sees 10 gamers on the kicking crew (all however the kicker) line up on the opposing 40-yard line, whereas the return may have no less than 9 gamers lined up between their 30- and 35-yard traces — seven of these gamers must be touching the 35-yard line. The kicker, who kicks from his crew’s 35-yard line, and the 2 returners are the one gamers allowed to maneuver till a returner touches the ball or the ball hits the bottom within the “touchdown zone.”
This space of the sector is taken into account to be the receiving crew’s aim line and its 20-yard line. Any kick that lands there should be returned. If the ball touches down within the touchdown zone and rolls into the tip zone, the receiving crew should both return it or down the ball for a touchback.
One of many dangers of the dynamic kickoff is that kickers are extra concerned in tackles, as evidenced by what occurred to Moody on Sunday. Some groups had experimented with utilizing non-kickers on kickoffs to maintain them out of harms manner.
GO DEEPER
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(Photograph: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures)
