Tag: Cairo Santos

7 Bears veterans in need of a strong training camp

These Bears players may not necessarily be on the bubble heading into camp, but they need a good showing when practices begin.

We’re inching closer and closer to the start of training camp for the Chicago Bears and many storylines will begin to unfold, from the ascent of the rookies to how new veterans will gel with the team. No matter what direction you look in, there’s going to be something of note to watch when camp begins.

One of those storylines will involve veterans who may not necessarily be on the roster bubble but will need strong camp performances to solidify their position. Whether that’s as a starter or a backup. Here are seven of those players who will benefit greatly from a strong camp showing.

10 Bears with the most to prove in 2023

There are several Bears players with something to prove this season.

The Chicago Bears are coming off a 3-14 season that culminated in a 10-game losing streak, but there’s plenty of optimism about the direction of the team following an impactful 2023 offseason.

There are plenty of players with something to prove this season, whether it’s veterans in a contract year or players looking to prove they can be the long-term answer. There’s a lot on the line for these guys, and it starts in training camp.

Let’s take a look at 10 Bears players with the most to prove in 2023.

30 Most Important Bears of 2023: No. 30 Cairo Santos

Our 30 Most Important Bears of 2023 series kicks off with Cairo Santos, who will look to hold off rookie Andre Szymt for the starting job.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2023 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. There are a number of players, coaches and front office members that are crucial to the team’s success this season.

Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2023 season. We’ll recap their 2022 season, look ahead to 2023 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

First up at No. 30 is kicker Cairo Santos, who will look to hold off undrafted rookie Andre Szymt for the starting job.

What does Bears’ addition of rookie Andre Szmyt mean for Cairo Santos?

After the addition of UDFA rookie Andre Szmyt, many have wondered what that means for Cairo Santos. Bears STC Richard Hightower explained.

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The Chicago Bears have spent the offseason overhauling their roster with veterans and rookies. But it’s the addition of undrafted rookie kicker Andre Szmyt that has caused plenty of speculation about veteran Cairo Santos’s future.

Santos has been a reliable kicker since joining the Bears in 2020. But last season, Santos struggled at times with extra points, missing five in 2022. Still, Santos remains one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers, connecting on 91.7% of his field goals (seventh in the league).

Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower indicated that Santos’ job is all but safe, if he plays up to his high standards.

“Cairo Santos finished like fifth in the NFL in kicking field goals,” Hightower said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “So I mean if you call that struggling, fifth in the NFL in field goals… I understand the extra point question and he fixed that towards the end. I mean a lot of people would kill to have a top-five kicker.”

As for Szmyt, the Bears have always preached the importance of competition at all positions, and Hightower indicated as much.

“Competition’s always good,” Hightower said. “Having more than one leg in camp is always good. What I like about Andre the most is the fact that he’s a really really good player, a really good, quick ball-rise, strike, elevation. I like the fact that he’s got that one-track mind so he has the mental toughness and the fortitude to play that position. So it’s good. Working with him, just seeing him, and hopefully we can help him develop and be a player and help him contribute to the team, feed his family long-term. That’s what our job as coaches is, is to develop them while they’re here.”

While Santos will likely be Chicago’s starting kicker come Week 1, the kicker competition between him and Szmyt will certainly be something to monitor during the summer.

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7 Bears veterans who could lose their jobs to rookies

Some Bears veterans should be on notice with incoming rookies who could challenge them for their jobs.

The Chicago Bears have overhauled their roster ahead of the 2023 NFL season, where general manager Ryan Poles has added some veterans and rookies who could have significant impacts.

When looking at the 2023 NFL draft in particular, Poles appeared to draft (or sign) rookies who should contribute immediately. In fact, some of those players could challenge established veterans for their jobs.

Training camp and preseason will present some intriguing position battles that will have big implications on the depth chart.

From Cairo Santos to Kindle Vildor to Jack Sanborn, here are some Bears veterans who should be on notice with incoming rookies challenging them for their jobs.

Robbie Gould on potential reunion with Bears: ‘I’d do it in a heartbeat’

Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould said he’d rejoin Chicago “in a heartbeat.”

Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould remains a free agent, and he’s continuing to mull his options.

Back in March, Gould announced that he would not be re-signing with the 49ers and instead would explore free agency. Gould made it clear that he’d like to play closer to his family, who reside in Chicago, and potentially for a contender.

“Obviously I want to play closer to home, that’s one of the big things that’s meant a lot to me, and we’re filtering through those opportunities, and waiting for the right time to be able to do that,” Gould said, via NFL.com. “I’d love to win if possible, so I’m kind of being a little picky with that, but at 40 years old and playing 18 years in the league, I think I’ve earned the ability to do that.”

Gould, who spent 11 seasons with Chicago, became the Bears’ all-time leading scorer with 1,207 points back in 2015. During his time in Chicago, Gould connected on 85.4% of his field goals and 99.0% of his extra points.

As Gould considers his options, many are wondering if he’d be open to a reunion with the Bears.

“For sure, if they called and said, ‘Hey, we want you to play for us,’ I’d do it in a heartbeat,” he said.

Cairo Santos is entering the final year of his deal with Chicago, where he’s been the only steady foot for the Bears since Gould was cut nearly seven years ago. If they cut Santos, it would cost $1.5 million in dead money this year, per Spotrac.

This is the second time in as many months that Gould has discussed a potential return to the Bears. During an appearance on Waddle & Silvy back in March, Gould made it clear he’d be open to returning to Chicago.

“Would I love to come back here and play? Absolutely,” Gould said. “There’s no doubt about it. Unfortunately, it’s not in our court to make that decision.”

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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.

Here’s what jersey number Bears WR DJ Moore will wear in Chicago

DJ Moore is officially a Bear! Here’s what number he’ll don in Chicago.

With the start of the new league year, wide receiver DJ Moore is officially a Chicago Bear. The Bears traded the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers in a deal that included two first-round picks, two second-round picks and Moore.

Moore is set to meet with the Chicago media for the first time on Thursday. But he already has been assigned a number with the Bears.

Moore wore No. 2 in Carolina, but that number was already occupied by kicker Cairo Santos in Chicago.

It appears that Moore has convinced Santos to switch numbers, as Moore will officially wear No. 2 with the Bears, as listed on the team’s official website. Santos will now wear No. 8.

Moore joins the Bears as quarterback Justin Fields’ new top target. Moore has three 1,000-yard seasons to his name in just five years — and he hasn’t had the best quarterback play.

Now, Fields gets his WR1 to join a group that also includes Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, as well as tight end Cole Kmet.

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Bears 2022 STs review: Cairo Santos takes step back

We close out our Bears position series by looking at the special teams players, who took a collective step back last season.

The Chicago Bears wrapped the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, which culminated in a 10-game losing streak. But there’s still reasons to be optimistic about the future, including a boatload of salary cap space, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the emergence of quarterback Justin Fields.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2022 Bears and grading every player. We close out the position series by looking at the special teams players, who took a collective step back last season.

5 bold predictions for Bears vs. Bills

From Khalil Herbert’s strong return to a big game from N’Keal Harry, here are our bold predictions for Bears vs. Bills.

The Chicago Bears will be spending Christmas at their home stadium Soldier Field, eagerly awaiting the big man in red to arrive. No, not Santa Claus, but Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills for a Christmas Eve showdown in the frigid elements.

After taking on the NFC’s best in the Philadelphia Eagles last week, they get a turn with one of the AFC’s best in the Bills, who are looking to keep their spot as the top seed with the playoffs just around the corner. The Bears, meanwhile, are playing for pride, development, and even draft at this point as the season draws closer to an end.

With temperatures likely in the single digits come kickoff, this game could become a battle of attrition. But that doesn’t mean we won’t see some impressive individual performances either. Here are our bold predictions for Bears vs. Bills.