SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As they head toward an NFC West division showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, the San Francisco 49ers could be without kicker Robbie Gould.
Gould suffered a quad injury this week, leaving his chances for playing on Monday up in the air. In response to the injury, the Niners are signing free-agent kicker Chase McLaughlin, a league source said Thursday morning.
Coming off a Thursday night game last week, the Niners held a “bonus” practice Tuesday. Gould was at that practice and participating, which means he likely suffered the injury then.
The 49ers are set to practice again Thursday as they prepare for the Seahawks.
McLaughlin, a rookie from Illinois, comes to the 49ers from the Los Angeles Chargers, where he handled kicking duties for four games before his release. McLaughlin was 6-of-9 on field goal attempts in that time and made all seven extra points.
While Gould’s injury isn’t considered long-term, it is the latest in a line of special teams changes for the 49ers. Before long snapper Kyle Nelson’s return from suspension two weeks ago, San Francisco went through three long snappers and are using rookie punter Mitch Wishnowsky as the holder, all of which has made for a lack of consistency in the kicking game over the first eight weeks.
This season, Gould is 13-of-20 on field goal attempts — the most misses he’s had in his 15-year career — and made all 26 of his PATs.
NFL Network first reported Gould’s injury and McLaughlin’s signing.