The Facts: The Panthers announced Thursday they were releasing Gonzalez after agreeing to terms with Eddy Pineiro on a two-year deal. The team didn’t cut Gonzalez, though. Instead, the Panthers traded Gonzalez to the 49ers, his agent, Mike McCartney, announced.

Diehards Line: Gonzalez had his season end before it began in 2022, injuring a groin while warming up during the final preseason game. The Panthers signed Piñeiro, whose play earned him the job beyond 2022. It was the second consecutive season Gonzalez had an injury while warming up. He injured a quad on the sidelines of a Week 16 game against Buffalo in 2021. He made 20 of his 22 field goal attempts in 12 games of the 2021 season (90.9 percent) and went 22-of-23 (95.7 percent) on extra points. The Browns made Gonzalez a seventh-round selection in 2017. Gonzalez, 27, has made 91-of-113 field goal attempts (80.5 percent) in 63 games in his career.