49ers Elevate Kicker Matt Gay Ahead of Monday Night Football

Santa Clara, California — The San Francisco 49ers announced two roster moves ahead of their highly anticipated matchup against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football. The team elevated kicker Matt Gay and linebacker Jalen Graham from the practice squad for the Week 12 game.

Gay steps in for Eddy Piñeiro, who is sidelined with a Grade 1 hamstring injury sustained during Week 11. Piñeiro is currently considered week-to-week, prompting the 49ers to seek a temporary replacement. Gay, who was released by the Washington Commanders last week, has a career field-goal percentage of 84 percent over seven seasons, despite struggling recently with a 68.4 percent success rate this season.

In a statement, 49ers general manager John Lynch expressed confidence in Gay, stating, “We talked to folks there whose opinion we trust, and they kind of did it reluctantly, letting him go. We were happy to get him.” Lynch emphasized that Gay has the leg strength needed for long-distance kicks, despite recent misses.

The team also elevated Graham to provide depth at linebacker following the injury to Tatum Bethune, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain. Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Graham will back up Curtis Robinson, who has stepped into a starting role due to the injury list affecting the linebacker corps.

The 49ers aim for back-to-back wins for the first time since Week 3, hoping to perform well under the bright lights at Levi’s Stadium on Monday night.

Fans can expect to see Gay play a crucial role as the 49ers face off against the Panthers at 5:15 PM Pacific Time.