For rookie punter, even his shanks hit the mark
When it comes to his kicks, 49ers rookie punter Mitch Wishnowsky has “a lot of clubs in his bag,” according to special teams coach Richard Hightower.
In fact, the fourthround pick’s array of soaring boots often include spin and can tail away from the team’s punt returners. On Friday, Wishnowsky was asked about a particularly nasty punt in practice from the previous day that Dante Pettis couldn’t corral.
What does Wishnowsky call that kick?
“That was a bit of a shank — a bit of a mishit,” he said, smiling. “I’ll take it, though.”
Give Wishnowsky points for honesty. And the NFL’s highestdrafted punter since 2012 has also been earning compliments from his teammates for directional kicks in practice that have featured impressive hang time and distance.
Before training camp, wide receiver Trent Taylor, who also returns punts, termed Wishnowsky’s kicks “filthy.”
“He has some serious hang time,” Taylor said. “I feel like I’m sitting there waiting for it to come down for way too long. Then once you’re there for too long, you start overthinking it. That’s what makes him good.”
The 49ers are hoping Wishnowsky can channel Seattle’s Michael Dickson, a fellow Australian who was a firstteam AllPro last year as a rookie after he was selected in the fifth round.
The early returns are promising, but Hightower is waiting for Wishnowsky to wow his teammates when it counts.
There’s been “a lot of ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ on some of that stuff,” Hightower said. “Again, he’s got to do it in a football game. We haven’t played a game, and he’s still a rookie, so he’s doing well, and he’s got some talent, obviously, or he wouldn’t have been drafted where he was drafted. Again, he’s got to put it on the field, and we’re excited to see him do that. We believe he will do that.” Injury report: Edge rusher Dee Ford did not practice a day after head coach Kyle Shanahan said Ford was dealing with knee tendinitis. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon left the field with a trainer because of what the 49ers termed a “glute” issue during individual drills and did not return . ... Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (toe), guard Joshua Garnett (finger), safety Jimmie Ward (collarbone), defensive lineman Kapron LewisMoore (groin) and wide receiver Max McCaffrey (undisclosed) did not practice. Transactions: The 49ers waived tight end Niles Paul, whom they signed last week, and claimed undrafted rookie tight end Daniel Helm off waivers from the Chargers. Helm had 69 catches for 767 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons at Duke . ... The 49ers also waived offensive lineman Erik Magnuson off injured reserve with an injury settlement.