49ers look at kickers as Akers struggles

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With David Akers' struggles continuing Sunday, the 49ers tried out unemployed veteran kickers Billy Cundiff and Nate Kaeding on Tuesday.The tryouts were first reported by Scout.com, and confirmed to CSNBayArea.com by a league source.Cundiff missed 32-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of the AFC championship game prevented the John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens from tying with the New England Patriots. He was cut by the Washington Redskins earlier this season. He made just seven of 12 attempts in five games.Cundiff, an eight-year pro, has made 139-of-184 career attempts (75.5 percent) with Dallas, New Orleans, Cleveland, Baltimore and Washington.Kaeding is the most-accurate kicker in NFL history. He played all nine of his NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He has made 180-of-207 career attempts (87 percent). But, like Cundiff, Kaeding did not have success in the postseason with some costly misses for the Chargers. He was just 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) in eight playoff games. Kaeding was placed on injured reserve and was released last month, once he became healthy.There is no indication that the 49ers have immediate plans to change kickers, but Akers' struggles have the 49ers thinking ahead.After setting the NFL record with 44 made field goals last season, Akers has converted on just 19-of-27 attempts. On Sunday, he pushed a 50-yard attempt wide left and a 33-yard attempt was blocked.Akers, a 14-year veteran, has made 357-of-438 career attempts (81.5 percent).

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