It looked like kicker Jon Brown may get a real opportunity with the 49ers as the team finished its offseason program. Robbie Gould’s four-year contract dramatically altered Brown’s fortunes, and the 49ers on Tuesday waived the 26-year-old.
Gould’s murky contract situation put the 49ers in a spot where they needed an additional kicker at least for training camp. The veteran looked primed to hold out until the regular season which opened the door for Brown to make a mark and earn a roster spot in the event that Gould’s holdout lasted into the first week of the season.
The 49ers and Gould came to an agreement on a four-year contract, meaning the kicker will report to camp. San Francisco could’ve kept Brown as a camp leg, but freeing up the roster spot is more in line with how they’ve operated with special teams this season. They waived punter Justin Vogel shortly after drafting punter Mitch Wishnowsky in the fourth round.
Brown was a college soccer player who wound up kicking for Louisville and signing in 2016 as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals. He spent time on their practice squad before being released last September during final roster cuts. San Francisco signed him in March.
The 49ers open training camp with their special teams units now intact. All players will report to the team facility in Santa Clara on Friday.
