David Akers Reportedly Will Be Released by 49ers Prior to Free Agency

The San Francisco 49ers will reportedly release kicker David Akers before the start of free agency.

Per PhiladelphiaEagles.com's Adam Caplan:

This reported move should come as no surprise.

Akers' 2013 salary is set to count for $3.6 million against the cap (per Spotrac), and his performance in 2012 was far from exemplary. 

The left-footed kicker struggled last season, hitting on just 69 percent of his field-goal attempts. Even worse, a few of his misses occurred in crucial moments of games, costing the 49ers at least two wins.

He also infamously hit the left upright during the NFC Championship Game, and if not for some late-game heroics by Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore and the 49ers offense, that miss could have cost his team a chance to compete in Super Bowl XLVII.

Considering that Akers had broken the NFL record for most field goals in one season in 2011 (44), his fall from grace in 2012 was rather unexpected.

As the season wore on, news came out that he had undergone surgery for a double sports hernia in February and was dealing with complications all season long (per San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch).

It's unknown what the 49ers intend to do to replace him at this time, but for now, the move paves the way for general manager Trent Baalke to continue building toward the future.  

Akers, at the age of 38, may have some tread left on his tires, but he won't be kicking for the 49ers in 2013. 

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