Story by
49ers Seemingly End One Position Battle Before Preseason Begins
- Story by
- 49ers Seemingly End One Position Battle Before Preseason Begins
One of the best parts about NFL training camp is watching the position battles . Each team has several players fighting for spots , and the San Francisco 49ers are no exception.
One of the position battles we've had our eyes on has been at the punter position. The 49ers moved on from Thomas Morstead this offseason and signed Corliss Waitman in free agency. In addition, the team signed undrafted free agent Jack Bouwmeester , and the two punters were set to battle it out for the job.
Advertisement
It was expected that the battle would last well into the preseason, but the team has reportedly ended the battle before the first preseason game can even begin.
49ers Cut Jack Bouwmeester, Set to Roll with Corliss Waitman
Sep 14, 2024; Logan, Utah, USA; Utah Utes punter Jack Bouwmeester (34) punts against the Utah State Aggies at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
Ahead of Thursday's preseason opener, the 49ers made several roster moves on Wednesday. The team added running back Zamir White amid a rash of injuries, and also parted ways with Bouwmeester.
It's surprising to see the team part ways with Bouwmeester before giving him a chance to punt in a game. The competition seemed to be wide-open, with both punters getting plenty of opportunities at training camp.
Advertisement
Bouwmeester seemed like a promising option. The undrafted free agent was very productive in college for both Utah and Texas. Bouwmeester led the Pac-12 in yards per punt in 2023 and led the Big-12 in total punt yards in 2024.
In 2025, Bouwmeester was top 30 in the country in yards per punt and total punt yards. The Australia native had three punts of at least 60 yards in his college career. Bouwmeester was thought to have a good chance to make the team due to his power, but clearly the team wasn't that impressed with his summer.
There's also a possibility that the punting competition isn't completely over. Perhaps the 49ers are waiting to see how Waitman performs in the preseason opener before they decide whether they want to add another punter.
Advertisement
In 2025, Waitman was perfectly average for the Pittsburgh Steelers . The veteran earned a 69.9 Pro Football Focus grade , which ranked 18th out of 32 punters. Waitman averaged just over 41 yards per punt, which ranked 17th out of 32 punters.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
