49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said earlier this week that he had a “leader in the clubhouse” in the competition between David Akers and Billy Cundiff to serve as the team’s kicker against the Packers.
Harbaugh revealed his choice on Thursday and it turned out to be the same guy who has been kicking for the team all year. Akers will be kicking against Green Bay while Cundiff won’t be suiting up. He will remain on the roster pending any change of heart over the remainder of San Francisco’s run this season, however.
Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reports that Harbaugh said Akers gives the team their “best chance to win” on Saturday. He’s battled a pelvis injury this season and missed at least one field goal in all but one of the team’s second half games. Akers set NFL records by trying 52 field goals and making 44 of them in 2011, but he slumped to 29-of-42 this season.
That wasn’t enough for Harbaugh to make a change heading into the postseason, where Akers has made 35-of-42 field goals over the course of his career with the Eagles and 49ers.