The San Francisco 49ers‘ roster is something however shored up at this level within the offseason. Whereas the most important areas of concern have been stuffed and the vast majority of the staff’s starters could be ascertained, there are a couple of positions that might have new starters in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer famous lately that two key 49ers beginning spots — punter and kick returner — might be up for grabs through the staff’s offseason exercises this spring and summer season.
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The 49ers signed veteran Corliss Waitman and introduced rookie Jack Bouwmeester this offseason to interchange Thomas Morstead at punter. Each gamers kick otherwise: Waitman together with his left, whereas Bouwmeester together with his proper. That duality was by design, Boyer stated.
“As a result of the ball spins completely different, proper?” he said. “So I feel it’s actually going to assist. And I feel whoever the mud settles with at that place, it’ll be a fantastic expertise for these returners to should catch these balls like that for positive.”
Waitman has punted 230 occasions in his profession for 10,673 yards — a mean of 46.4 yards per punt. He final performed for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. Bouwmeester punted for the College of Texas in 2025 after 4 years at Utah. He averaged 43.8 yards per punt on 213 profession kicks in faculty.
As for the 49ers’ return specialist, the staff moved on from Skyy Moore and can possible have an open competitors amongst a number of completely different gamers at varied phases of their careers. Receivers Jacob Cowing and Ricky Pearsall from the 2024 draft class, receivers Jordan Watkins and Junior Bergen from the 2025 draft class, rookie receiver Wesley Grimes and eight-year veteran however first-year 49ers receiver Christian Kirk.
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Cowing returned 28 punts for 245 yards and one kickoff for 32 yards in 2024 however missed the complete 2025 season with a preseason hamstring damage. Pearsall returned three punts for 41 yards in 2024. Watkins and Bergen have not returned a kick in a regular-season sport. Grimes returned two kickoffs for 40 yards in 2023 for Wake Forest.
Kirk is probably the most skilled return specialist on this group. In his eight NFL seasons, he returned 57 punts for 382 yards. Nonetheless, Kirk might be 30 in November and hasn’t returned greater than 4 punts in a season since 2020.
This text initially appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers coach hints at 2 positional battles this offseason
