Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the 49ers released punter Mitch Wishnowsky in tandem with signing Thomas Morstead.
New San Francisco 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer isn't messing around.
Already influencing the Niners' offseason decision to part ways with longtime long-snapper Taybor Pepper in favor of the veteran, Jon Weeks, it seems as if Boyer's campaign to fully revamp a dilapidated third phase of the game will continue deeper into the offseason.
And it might include swapping out incumbent punter Mitch Wishnowsky with a recent free-agent signing, Thomas Morstead.
Morstead originally tweeted out he was at San Francisco's facility outside Levi's Stadium, and then ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed a deal had been reached with the 49ers:
Of note, Morstead spent the last two seasons under Boyer with the New York Jets, so that connection is undeniable.
What does it mean for Wishnowsky's future, though?
Mitch Wishnowsky's shaky ground with 49ers just got shakier
Injuries did no favors to Wishnowsky in 2024, causing him to miss nine games with back ailments that could still potentially be impacting his availability heading into offseason workouts.
It's possible Morstead is joining the 49ers merely to guard against further injury setbacks to the former.
But, as fans saw with Pepper being swapped out for Weeks, it's just as plausible to see Morstead taking over full-time duties for Wishnowsky regardless of injuries.
Wishnowsky, the highest-drafted specialist from 2019, is signed through 2026. But a post-June 1 release would cost the Niners $770,000 in each of the following two seasons while generating over $1.4 million in cap space this year and $2.78 million the next, according to Over the Cap.
From that vantage point, San Francisco might be seeking out an upgrade who's healthy and potentially more cost-effective than Wishnowsky is at this stage of his career.
Pay attention to the 49ers' subsequent roster moves in the coming days and weeks, because it wouldn't be surprising if one of those involved the Australian-born punter.
