SALT LAKE CITY — Mitch Wishnowsky’s booming punts weren’t the only thing gaining him attention Monday night.
The former Utah punter and San Francisco 49ers fourth-round pick had social media buzzing when he laid a bruising hit on Denver Broncos kick returner Devonte Jackson in the third quarter of the 49ers’ 24-15 preseason win.
In addition to his punting duties, Wishnowsky served as the team’s kickoff specialist during the game. While all of his other kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, following a San Francisco touchdown midway through the third quarter, Jackson chose to return Wishnowsky’s kick that went four yards into the end zone.
Jackson didn’t make it far, as the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Australian Wishnowsky rushed downfield and stopped the returner in his tracks with a form tackle at the Denver 22.
“I hang back and then if there’s a gap to fill I’ll just run in there,” Wishnowsky told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Sort of half expecting him to sort of (side step) me or something. He didn’t. So it worked out.”
The big hit from the rookie who played Australian rules football growing up elicited plenty of entertaining responses online, including one from teammate Trent Taylor, a 49ers wide receiver.
Wishnowsky and the 49ers even called for an improvement of his tackling rating — a 36 — on Madden 20.
The former Ute also had a good night punting the ball — his six punts averaged 48 yards, with a long of 54, and he pinned two inside the 20.