SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Ricky Schmitt began the week kicking field goals with his fiancee. Now he'll be doing it on Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers signed Schmitt to a one-year contract Wednesday to replace regular kicker Joe Nedney, who has a strained hamstring and will miss this week's game against the Detroit Lions at Candlestick Park.
Schmitt was with the 49ers in 2008 until the end of the preseason. San Francisco will be the 10th NFL team he has either played for or worked out with this year.
Sunday will be the first time he has ever played in a regular-season NFL game.
"This is the best Christmas present ever," Schmitt said. "I'm glad to be back. I've been waiting three years for this. I just kept working at it, keeping the faith, and now I'm here."
Schmitt entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2007. He spent time on the practice squads of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders in 2008. He was released by the Raiders in September.
Schmitt got the call from the 49ers after Nedney was hurt on a kickoff late in the third quarter of last week's 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Schmitt had been working out at his old high school in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, with his fiancee Jennifer Gentile holding and retrieving balls for him. He had tryouts earlier this year with San Diego, Baltimore, Minnesota, Miami, Tampa Bay, Washington, Tennessee and the New York Jets.
He's a good fit for the 49ers despite his inexperience because, like Nedney, Schmitt kicks left-footed. Schmitt said he emulated Nedney when he was growing up while Nedney was playing for the Tennessee Titans.
"I like the ball exactly the way Joe does, so Andy (Lee) doesn't have to worry about changing anything with the holding," Schmitt said. "There's a real familiarity here, and that helps a lot. It's just a really comfortable situation for me."
Nedney, a 14th-year veteran, will miss his first game in five seasons with the 49ers. Nedney became the 42nd player in NFL history to score 1,000 career points earlier this season.
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BRUCE FINISHED WITH 49ERS: Coach Mike Singletary said Wednesday that wide receiver Isaac Bruce will not play again for the 49ers this season.
Bruce, San Francisco's leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns receptions in 2008, has been inactive for each of San Francisco's last four games after losing his starting position to second-year player Josh Morgan.
It was believed the 49ers would activate Bruce and perhaps even start him in their Jan. 3 regular-season finale against the St. Louis Rams, the team Bruce played with his first 14 seasons while establishing himself as one of the most prolific receivers in league history.
But Singletary said that won't happen.
"I think it's like this: When I think about Isaac Bruce, maybe some other people might want to see it, but I think Isaac knows who he is and he knows a final hurrah and all that stuff, I don't think it's that big to him," Singletary said. "I think he's done his damage. He's a great pro and a future Hall of Famer. We're just fortunate enough to have him in the capacity that we do, continuing to build into our young guys. That means the world to us."
Bruce, who turned 37 in November, started San Francisco's first six games this year and has 21 receptions for 264 yards. He ranks fifth in NFL history with 1,024 career receptions and second with15,208 receiving yards.
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WALLACE TO GET FIRST ACTION: The 49ers plan to activate offensive lineman Cody Wallace on Sunday for the first time in his two seasons with the team.
Wallace, San Francisco's fourth-round draft selection in 2008, has been inactive for each of his 30 NFL games so far.
With the 49ers (6-8) eliminated from playoff contention, Singletary said Wallace is one of the younger players the team would like to see over the final two weeks of the season.
"Right now, Cody is the main focus when I think of the younger guys," Singletary said. "He knows what he's doing. He knows the system. It's just a matter of having the opportunity. Hopefully, the game allows an opportunity to see him a series or so. I really do want to get a chance to see him and if he can do it or if he can't."
Singletary said Wallace would play at center. Veteran Eric Heitmann has started every game at center for the 49ers the past three seasons and missed only one series of action last year.
EXTRA POINTS: Singletary also said cornerback Nate Clements won't play again this season. Clements, who suffered a shoulder injury Nov. 1, was expected back at the end of the year. Singletary he has no plans to give rookie quarterback Nate Davis a look in the final two games. Davis was impressive during the preseason but has not played a snap in his first season. "It would be different if (starter) Alex Smith was a proven veteran player (who had) everything under control," Singletary said. "I want Alex to get all the playing time he can get. I want to see every drop of everything he has, every situation that he can possibly be in. I want him to learn every lesson that he can possible learn." ... RB Glen Coffee and LB Takeo Spikes missed practice Wednesday with hamstring injuries.
