49ers kicker David Akers is hurting

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David Akers is slumping.

And hurting.

The 49ers' placekicker was limited in practice Wednesday because of a pelvis injury, an ailment which prompted the team to bring in kickers Nate Kaeding and Billy Cundiff for a tryout Tuesday, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh said the team wanted to ensure it had a "Plan B" for Sunday's game at St. Louis, but the 49ers might not need a fallback option based on Akers' performance in Wednesday's practice. The 15-year veteran smoothly drilled a series of 50-yard field goals and showed no noticeable signs of an injury.

On Sunday, Akers, 37, did appear to get clipped by a New Orleans player on his fourth extra-point attempt in a 31-21 win over the Saints. Akers, however, stayed in the game and booted the ensuing kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. In the fourth quarter, Akers made a 27-yard field goal, missed from 50 yards and had a 33-yard attempt blocked.

Akers has missed eight of his past 21 field-goal attempts, including four of seven tries from 40 to 49 yards. He ranks 29th in the NFL in field-goal percentage (70.4).

Kaeding, 30, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Chargers, is the most accurate kicker in NFL history (86.9 field-goal percentage), but has been plagued by knee and groin injuries the past two seasons. He was released by San Diego on Oct. 30. Cundiff, 32, was released by the Redskins on Oct. 10 after he made just 7 of 12 attempts this season.

The 49ers have an open roster spot, which they presumably won't fill until they determine if Akers can go Sunday.

Briefly: Tight end Delanie Walker (hip, ribs) did not practice Wednesday, but said he's confident he'll play Sunday. ... Linebacker Aldon Smith (shoulder) and safety Darcel McBath (concussion) were limited in practice. ... Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola (foot), running back Steven Jackson (foot) and defensive end Robert Quinn (concussion) did not practice.