49ers continue bolstering special teams by adding another 39-year-old
49ers continue bolstering special teams by adding another 39-year-old
In an offseason defined by an injection of youth, the San Francisco 49ers are going the opposite direction on special teams.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch on Wednesday reported the 49ers signed veteran punter Thomas Morstead. That report came shortly after Morstead posted a photo on social media where he was at the 49ers' facility.
Morstead has been in the NFL since 2009 when he was a fifth-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints. He's the second 39-year-old the 49ers have added this offseason, joining veteran longsnapper and former Houston Texan Jon Weeks.
There's a distinct difference between Weeks and Morstead, though. Weeks was signed after the club released longsnapper Taybor Pepper. Morstead was brought in with veteran punter Mitch Wishnowsky still on the roster.
Wishnowsky has had a lot of success with San Francisco since joining the club as a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, but he missed the final eight games last season because of a back injury that also limited him in training camp and the preseason. If the 49ers aren't sure about Wishnowsky's health, it makes sense that they'd bring in a veteran to compete in training camp in the event Wishnowsky isn't available for camp or the start of the season.
Morstead spent his first 12 seasons with the Saints, then split a year between the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. He was with the Miami Dolphins in 2022 before rejoining the Jets for the last two seasons. Morstead was released by the Jets this offseason. In New York he played for new 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, who held the same position with the Jets from 2016-24.
In 16 seasons Morstead has averaged 46.8 yards per punt with 36.7 percent of his kicks being downed inside the 20. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012 and earned a Second-Team All-Pro spot that same year. He was also part of the Saints Super Bowl championship team as a rookie in 2009.
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