Eddy Piñeiro’s kicking woes are subtly becoming a problem 49ers can’t ignore

Nick San Miguel of Niner Noise writes that San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro is facing early struggles that could become an issue if they persist. After leading the NFL with a 96.6 field-goal percentage last season, Piñeiro has converted just 62.5 percent of his attempts through five games in 2026, already matching his five total misses from the previous year across field goals and extra points.

Despite the misses, San Miguel notes that Piñeiro remains clutch, highlighted by a game-winning 43-yard kick in a 32-29 victory against the Seattle Seahawks. Because the 49ers are 5-0 and signed Piñeiro to a four-year, $17 million deal with $10 million guaranteed in the offseason, the writer believes the team will not quickly move on unless his kicking woes directly cost them games.