49ers’ struggling special teams could be prey for Cowboys’ big return game

SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ gaffe-per-game consistency on special teams is a glaring culprit in this season’s 3-4 start, and there’s plenty of hang time with that concern for Sunday’s visit by the Dallas Cowboys.

“We’ve been beaten a couple of different ways, and we know the reasons and the mistakes for that,” said Chris Conley, a core special-teams player. “Corrections have been made. Now it’s time to go out and put it on film.”

The Cowboys (3-3) are coming off a bye week in which they could scout openings for their elite return units. They’re averaging an NFL-best 34.2 yards per kick return and an NFC-best 19.2 yards per punt return.

How bad do the 49ers’ coverage units rank? Dead last on punt returns (18.4-yard average) and 29th with a 33-yard average per kick return, the latter of which figured to be volatile with the NFL’s introduction of dynamic kickoff rules this season.

“We’ve got to get a lot better at it. It’s pretty obvious to everybody,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It’s obvious to us, it’s been that way for a few weeks and can’t give you guys one narrative on it, because there’s not one narrative.”

The 49ers have committed at least one special-teams gaffe in each of their past six games. They include a blocked punt, a fake punt, a missed field goal, a last-minute punt return, a fumbled kick return, two injured kickers, a 97-yard kick return for a touchdown, a 55-yard punt return and a missed point-after kick.

“It’s about working with everyone, holding people accountable, and coaching them up the best we can to get them better,” Shanahan said.

Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider and his assistant spent the first two periods of Wednesday’s practice hammering home details. Players responded with focus and urgency in the shells-only session.

“I’ve been on plenty of teams and it’s not coached incorrectly at all,” said tight end Eric Saubert, who’s played a team-high 115 of 180 special-teams snaps this year. “We just need to go out and execute. It’s been frustrating for sure.

“At one point,” Saubert added, “you have to make a stand and put together a good game.”

Danger lurks this game with Cowboys return specialist KaVontae Turpin, who made the Pro Bowl as a 2022 rookie and used his speedy frame (5-foot-9, 153 pounds) to rack up 194 yards on four kick returns in the Cowboys’ last game, a 47-9 loss to Detroit ahead of last weekend’s bye.

Conley called Turpin one of if, not the best, return man in the league. “He’s explosive, he has vision, he can really do it all. It’s no secret now,” Conley said. “A few years ago, people had a lot of questions. Now there are no secrets about what he’s capable of doing and the fact he can change the game.”

Added Saubert: “It puts a huge emphasis on being in the right spots in our coverage.”

Mitch Wishnowsky’s net average of 35.6 yards per punt ranks 30th in the NFL; it’s still better than the 34.4-yard net average the 49ers got from Percey Harvin III in the preseason while Wishnowsky (knee) was sidelined.

Saubert spent a week last October with the Cowboys (before joining Houston) so he’s keenly aware of the surprises special teams coordinator John Fassel typically has in store, especially against vulnerable prey like these 49ers’ units.

Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey missed Wednesday’s practice on jury duty, so the surprises have already begun.

In terms of their own returns, the 49ers lack sizzle, as usual. Rookie Jacob Cowing has averaged 6 yards on nine returns, none longer than 11 yards; he has made three fair catches, one at the 6-yard line. Annual reminder: The 49ers have not returned a punt for a touchdown since the 2011 season opener.

The 49ers have returned eight kickoffs through seven games, by Isaac Guerendo (three for 90 yards), Deebo Samuel (three for 73), and Patrick Taylor (two for 45), with none longer than 35 yards. Thus, the 49ers overall rank 30th in punt returns (6.2-yard average) and 20th in kick returns (26.0 average); the Cowboys’ coverage units are 29th on punts (14.3-yard averge) and 10th on kickoffs (24.7-yard average).

The 49ers’ wave of injuries has impacted the special teams.

“There’s a bunch of movement on those guys, so you just keep developing them, you keep working with the individual drills,” Shanahan said. “You can’t do all stuff full-speed, especially tackling and things like that. But we’re emphasizing everything and trying to get our group better.”

Here’s what has gotten that group in trouble:

Week 1 vs. Jets (32-19 win)

Major mistake: None

This opener was an outlier. Jake Moody nailed 6-of-6 field-goal attempts and made both his point-after kicks, leading to NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Week 2 at Vikings (23-17 loss)

Major mistake: Blocked punt

The 49ers’ second possession ended with a blocked punt, as C.J. Ham split Robert Beal Jr. and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles at midfield. The Vikings took over at the 24-yard line and produced the game’s first points on a field goal. Also: The 49ers trailed just 13-7 when Jacob Cowing muffed a third-quarter punt return that teammate Isaac Yiadom recovered at the 49ers’ 13-yard line.

Week 3 at Rams (27-24 loss)

Major mistake: Fake punt

Claiming after the fact they knew it was coming, the 49ers allowed Ronnie Rivers to convert a fourth-and-6 fake punt, leading to the Rams’ first touchdown and cutting the 49ers’ lead to 14-7. Mistake No. 2: Moody missed a 55-yard field goal with 2:43 left and the 49ers’ leading 24-17. Mistake No. 3: Xavier Smith produced a 38-yard, last-minute punt return to midfield, setting up the Rams’ winning field goal.

Week 4 vs. Patriots (30-13 win)

Major mistake: Fumbled return

Rookie Isaac Guerendo fumbled as he returned the second-half kickoff and ran into teammate Eric Saubert’s backside. The Patriots converted that turnover into a touchdown and 20-10 deficit. Also, Kyle Juszczyk debuted as a punt returner (8-yard return) in place of an injured Cowing.

Week 5 vs. Cardinals (24-23 loss)

Major mistake: Kicker hurt on tackle

After Deommodore Lenoir scored by returning a blocked field goal, Moody sustained a high ankle sprain to his right (kicking) leg by attempting a tackle on his ensuing kickoff. Mitch Wishnowsky filled in to make his first career field goal but, on fourth-and-23 in the third quarter, the 49ers didn’t trust him to try a 45-yarder and instead Purdy threw an incompletion.

Week 6 at Seahawks (36-24 win)

Major mistake: Touchdown on kick return

Leading 23-3, the 49ers allowed a 97-yard kick return to Lavika Shenault in the third quarter for the Seahawks, who would rally within one score. The 49ers lost a kicker to injury for the second straight game when Matthew Wright, Moody’s replacement, hurt his shoulder and back making a tackle with just over a minute left; Wright went on injured reserve.

Week 7 vs. Chiefs (28-18 loss)

Major mistake: 55-yard punt return

Mecole Hardman, whose touchdown beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl’s overtime, zipped past three fallen 49ers on a 55-yard punt return between the Chiefs’ second-quarter touchdown drives (and after a 49ers three-and-out series). Anders Carlson, the 49ers’ third kicker in as many games, missed a point-after kick off the left upright when a 2-point attempt may have made more sense with the 49ers down 14-12 in the third quarter. To top off all these special-teams bungles, Wishnowsky’s onside kick didn’t spin further than four of the necessary 10 yards with 1:08 to go.