Kicker Robbie Gould wasn't expected to make an appearance for the San Francisco 49ers' mandatory minicamp this week. There were no surprises on Tuesday.
On February 26, the 49ers used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Gould. A month later, he requested a trade. A couple of days after that, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch made it clear they have no intention of trading their frustrated kicker, who continues to be a no-show.
The 49ers might not see Gould until after the team begins preparations for their Week 1 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Obviously, I would much rather Robbie be here and doing everything," Shanahan said. "We love to have him around, but I understand how he feels and what's going on. And if that's the way he would like to do it, no problem with that at all.
"You'd always rather it be perfect the way we want it, but if he doesn't show up until Week 1, it is what it is. I'll take a very good kicker at any time, whether it's Week 1 or on third-down, just one play before we're about to have to kick."
Gould completed 33-of-34 field goal attempts and 27-of-29 extra points last season. His NFL-leading 97.1 field goal completion percentage last year set the franchise record for the highest in a single season.
"Robbie's a hell of a kicker," Shanahan continued, "and nothing's really changed on that. I just really hope that he shows up by the time we play Week 1."
Gould has not signed his one-year franchise tag deal, and there is no telling when he might do so. He remains in the Chicago area, which he calls home.
Ideally, Gould would probably like to be reunited with his hometown Chicago Bears, who could probably use him. Shanahan and the 49ers, however, expect Gould to be their kicker in 2019.
"The bottom line is, I'm unsure if I want to play there anymore," Gould told ESPN in April. "At this point, I have to do what's best for me and my family back home."