Even though OTAs are underway in the Bay, the San Francisco 49ers were busy making some moves on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, punter Thomas Morstead posted on his X account that he was signing with the 49ers. They continued to make some additions who had ties to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, adding LB Chazz Surratt.
In order to make some space, the 49ers released punter Mitch Wishnowsky, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
49ers Released Punter Mitch Wishnowsky on Wednesday
Wishnowsky was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Although he had 92 career games with the 49ers under his belt, it wasn't enough to keep him around for the 2025 campaign.
Last season, he missed eight games due to a back injury, but even before going down, he wasn't having a good season. He ranked 32nd in punt average (45.2) and 31st with 11 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line.
Even during the 2023 season, when Wishnowsky played in all 17 games, he was 14th in punting average (47.7) while being tied for 16th with 26 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line. He's never averaged more than 47 yards per punt, and the 49ers felt they could get more from that position.
Although Morstead is 39 years old, he can still be an effective punter. In 2024 with the New York Jets, he ranked 17th in punting average (47.2) while being tied for 3rd with the longest punt (75). In the meantime, during the 2023 season, he was second in the NFL in punts inside the 20 (36) and 11th in punting average (48.8).
He has an All-Pro and Pro Bowl under his belt and is ready to step up and help the 49ers. The fact that San Francisco didn't even give Wishnowsky the chance to compete with two years left on his deal is certainly telling.
They were over it and wanted to start fresh at the position for the 2025 season.