Tag: bears kicker

Robbie Gould says he would ‘absolutely’ come back to play for the Bears again

Robbie Gould would welcome a return to the Bears this offseason.

It’s been nearly eight years since the Chicago Bears said goodbye to kicker Robbie Gould, but if he were presented the opportunity to come back this offseason, he’s letting everyone know he would be all for it.

Gould, a free agent after spending the last six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, joined ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy show for the station’s 25th anniversary special on Friday afternoon at the House of Blues in Chicago. After reminiscing about Gould’s relationship with the station where he’s been a frequent guest and co-host, the conversation eventually turned to free agency and whether or not he would welcome a reunion with the Bears. He didn’t mince words.

“If Chicago called me and said ‘we want you back,’ would I do it? Absolutely,” Gould told the hosts, resulting in a round of applause from the live audience. He then praised the Bears and general manager Ryan Poles for their offseason up to this point, from trading the No. 1 overall pick to the signings of players like Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, and how the team is coming together around Justin Fields before reiterating his desire to play again for his former team. “Yeah, I would love to come back and play for Chicago for sure.”

The all-time leading scorer in Bears history and fan-favorite player was with the team from 2005-2015 and converted 85.4% of his field goals during his tenure. He was released just prior to the 2016 season and spent one year with the New York Giants before winding up with the 49ers. Now he wants to kick closer to home and though he has a desire to end up with the Bears again, the cards are stacked against him.

The Bears still have Cairo Santos on the roster and Poles appears to be content with keeping him for another season. Santos has been the Bears kicker since 2020 and is entering the final year of his deal with a cap hit of $4.5 million this season. Santos converted 91.3% of his field goals in 2022, nearly seven percent higher than Gould (84.4%). Though Gould has been clutch, particularly in the postseason where he has yet to miss a field goal, it would be surprising to see the Bears move away from Santos at this time.

For now, Bears fans will be left dreaming of a reunion with Gould. At least the feeling is mutual for many of them.

Who is Bears’ special teams MVP through the first 10 weeks?

While Cairo Santos was originally an emergency plan, he’s since become the plan at kicker with the Bears.

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While the Chicago Bears offense continues to sputter out of control, at least one good thing has come from this season — the Bears finally found their kicker.

While Cairo Santos was originally an emergency plan, he’s since become the plan at kicker with the Bears, as he’s had quite an impressive season filling in for an injured Eddy Pineiro.

Even if Pineiro was healthy — which he likely is after two and half months — there’s no turning back from Santos, who has connected on his last 15 field goals and has just two misses this season

Santos has connected on 17-of-19 field goals (89.47%) and made all 18 extra point attempts this season. His three-kick effort against the Carolina Panthers — which included a 55-yarder — also earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 6.

‘‘I think it’s just a guy that’s found his rhythm,’’ special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor said.

Which is exactly what the Bears have been missing at the kicker position. Now, if only their offense could find the same rhythm.

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How has Bears K Cairo Santos fared after first 10 weeks?

Bears kicker Cairo Santos has established himself as the kicker of the future in Chicago.

What started as a back-up plan has turned into a plan of action for the Chicago Bears with kicker Cairo Santos, who has established himself as the kicker of the future in Chicago.

Here’s how Santos has fared in his first 10 games this season.

Kicker Kai Forbath is a ‘break-glass-in-case-of-emergency’ option for Bears

No, the Bears don’t have a kicker controversy on their hands. But there are certainly a ton of questions with this COVID season.

Kicker woes are nothing new for the Chicago Bears, who’ve had four different starting kickers since Robbie Gould’s departure in 2016.

While it appeared that Eddy Pineiro would be the starter for the second straight season, a groin injury has kept him sidelined on injured reserve, which opened the door for veteran Cairo Santos, who has started all five games this season.

The Bears also signed veteran kicker Kai Forbath to the practice squad last week. No, the Bears don’t have a kicker controversy on their hands. But there are certainly a ton of questions. Especially with the uncertainties this season that extend beyond injury to COVID-19.

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said that Forbath’s addition is more “in case of emergency” than competition at kicker.

“I mean obviously there’s a lot of COVID issues going around right now,” Tabor said. “At that position, if someone would wake up in the morning with COVID, we’ve been in a lot of tight games and you don’t have a guy that can go out and make a field goal. That’s concerning.

“Kai is a guy that’s obviously been in this league a long time. He’s really a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency, is what he is.”

Pineiro is “still part of our plans,” says Tabor, despite not being close to returning off injured reserve. Until then, it’s Santos and Forbath — two new kickers on the roster this season — in the never-ending carousel of Bears kickers.

 

For once, a Cody Parkey doink goes his way

Cody Parkey has garnered a reputation for doinking the football, and he was at it again with the Browns…with a different, winning result.

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It would be nice not to have to continue to talk about Cody Parkey, but he continues to do things that bear the very thing.

The former Chicago Bears kicker has garnered a reputation around the league following his infamous double doink, which cost the Bears a postseason victory back in 2018.

But even before the double doink, Parkey was making a name for himself in doinking the football off the upright. Parkey hit the upright four — yes, four — times on two missed field goals and two missed extra points in a regular-season win against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 11, 2018.

Parkey, who has found a new opportunity with the Cleveland Browns, was at it again on Sunday. Parkey’s 46-yard field goal attempt doinked off the left upright before bouncing in to extend the Browns’ lead to 32-23 with 0:21 left.

It was the first time one of Parkey’s doinks benefitted him, which makes it all the more frustrating considering the pain that came with the doink heard ’round the world.

Parkey’s stint in Cleveland has been encouraging at the start, where he’s connected on all four field goals and all 14 extra points through four games with the Browns this season.

 

 

The Bears are working kicker Kai Forbath among other special teamers

Chicago is doing their homework on some special teamers, including veteran kicker Kai Forbath, who will have a tryout with the Bears.

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Following a disappointing outing on special teams in Week 5, it’s not a surprise to hear the Chicago Bears are trying out special teamers this week at Halas Hall. Although, they could simply be doing their due diligence in exploring the market.

According to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs, the Bears are scheduled to host some tryouts for kicker Kai Forbath, snapper Andrew DePaolo and punter Ryan Anderson on Wednesday.

As Biggs noted, it could be the Bears’ front office and coaches’ way of exploring what’s available on the free-agent market. But with Eddy Pineiro still on injured reserve with a groin injury and Cairo Santos’ fair share of struggles through the first quarter — he’s converted 5-of-7 field goals this season — it doesn’t hurt to take a look at what Forbath brings to the table.

Although, Forbath’s had his share of struggles in the kicking game. He was cut by the Dallas Cowboys back on Aug. 1 and has spent time on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad this season. Most recently, Forbath had a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons.

And, as it does, the Bears’ kicker carousel continues.

 

Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro eligible to return from IR this week

This week could spell the return of Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro, who was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 1 with a groin injury.

The Chicago Bears are one of just six undefeated teams left this season, and they’ll be looking to continue their hot streak against an impressive Indianapolis Colts team in Week 4.

But this week could also spell the return of kicker Eddy Pineiro, who was placed on injured reserve ahead of the team’s Week 1 game against the Detroit Lions.

This season, players are eligible to return off injured reserve after three weeks. After those three weeks, the player will be eligible to return to practice. Teams would then have 21 days to add him back on the active roster.

That means Pineiro is eligible to return to practice this week after serving three weeks on IR with a groin injury.

While kicker hasn’t been absolute free fall for the Bears, there are some concerns following Cairo Santos second straight missed field goal in as many weeks. He missed on a 46-yarder on the Bears’ opening possession. And considering the Bears have won every game by four points this season, every point matters.

We’ll see if the Bears are comfortable with where Pineiro’s at following a groin injury he’s been nursing since training camp, a question that head coach Matt Nagy will likely field this week from reporters.

Bears sign K Cairo Santos to active roster, waive TE Eric Saubert

The Bears have promoted kicker Cairo Santos to the 53-man roster and waived tight end Eric Saubert heading into Week 2.

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The Chicago Bears have promoted kicker Cairo Santos to the active roster and waived tight end Eric Saubert, the team announced Wednesday.

Santos, who was activated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, has been filling in for injured kicker Eddy Pineiro, who’s been out with a groin injury.

In his Bears debut — the second time around, as he kicked briefly during the 2017 season — Santos connected on both of his field goal attempts, from 35 yards and 28 yards.

Pineiro was placed on injured reserve ahead of the Week 1 opener, which means he won’t be eligible to return until Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts.

But if Santos solidifies his position as Chicago’s kicker, the Bears might have a kicker controversy on their hands. Again.

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Former Bears kicker Cody Parkey lives to kick another day in NFL

Get ready, Bears fans. A familiar face that might still haunts your dreams is getting another shot in the NFL as he joins the Browns.

Get ready, Bears fans. A familiar face that might still haunts your dreams is getting another shot in the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns are signing former Bears kicker Cody Parkey to their active roster, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. And get ready to see Parkey’s face on your television, because he’ll be kicking on Thursday Night Football as the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals to kick-off Week 2.

The Browns are bringing in Parkey to replace starter Austin Seibert, who they waived on Monday following a missed field goal and extra point in Sunday’s 38-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Obviously, Parkey needs no introduction for his infamous double-doink missed 43-yard field goal that cost the Bears a wild card win. Chicago released him that following offseason.

Parkey got one opportunity in 2019, where he kicked in three games for the Tennessee Titans. Parkey completed all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 50-plus yards.

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Bears promote K Cairo Santos to active roster ahead of Week 1 vs. Lions

As expected, the Bears have elevated kicker Cairo Santos to the active roster for their Week 1 game vs. the Lions.

The Chicago Bears have promoted kicker Cairo Santos to the active roster from the practice squad, the team announced Saturday.

The move isn’t a surprising one considering the Bears placed Eddy Pineiro on injured reserve this week as he continues to nurse a groin injury. Earlier this week, head coach Matt Nagy said it was “a safe bet” that Santos would be the team’s kicker heading into Week 1 against the Detroit Lions.

Under new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rules this season, the Bears are allowed to elevate two practice squad players each week without having to waive an existing player on the 53-man roster.

Nagy has liked what he’s seen from Santos so far during practices, and he’s confident in what Santos can do in Pineiro’s absence.

“I just know from my history, playing outside in Arrowhead and other places for three years with Cairo, it was just one of those deals where you never were concerned that when he got up to kick a field goal or an extra point, you really weren’t concerned at all if he was going to make it or miss it,” Nagy said. “They’re all going to have some misses, but it wasn’t something where you were holding your breath. That’s just how I felt. Right now, he’s in here, in training camp and these last practices and, you know, knock on wood, but he’s making a lot of kicks right now, which I like.”

Santos impressed during his only real practice making kicks during the team’s scrimmage at Soldier Field in late August, where special teams coordinator Chris Tabor came away impressed.

“No and knock on wood he doesn’t miss a lot of kicks and I think that’s what we like,” Tabor said. “To his credit that was his first time that we’d been down there. It was a nicer day, we all understand that. But it is a tough place to kick and to be able to walk into Soldier and make all your kicks, that’s a good sign.”

The last time Santos kicked in a regular-season game, he missed four kicks for the Tennessee Titans, who released him the following day. Santos chalked it up to it just not being his day, and he’s moved on from it.

“I think it was just a freak day, something that not even in my worst nightmares I could think of that could happen,” Santos said. “I was, thought I was killing it out there in practice, pregame warm-ups, for the five weeks I was in Tennessee. It was a rainy warm-up, it was just kind of, things fell out of sync. I was, it just kind of happens. . . So I knew I had to move on and I did that and I stayed confident and here we are in Week 1 and I’m just ready to get going.”

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