SANTA CLARA — The 49ers waived veteran kicker Billy Cundiff on Friday, less than three weeks after they signed him to compete with struggling kicker David Akers.

Cundiff and Akers competed against each other for a week or so before coach Jim Harbaugh opted to stick with Akers.

Cundiff was inactive for the 49ers 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Candlestick Park last Saturday night. Akers converted his lone field-goal attempt and all six of his extra-point attempts against the Packers.

Akers connected on 29 of 42 field-goal attempts during the regular season as he battled through the lingering effects of a double sports hernia he suffered during the 2011 season.

Akers flew to Philadelphia soon after the 49ers beat the Saints on Nov. 25 so that he could receive injections to deal with the inflammation in the affected area.

The 49ers did not fill the vacancy on their 53-man roster. It’s conceivable that they will do between now and Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons.