The Chicago Bears should feel fortunate the quarterback problem is dominating headlines lately. Why? It distracts people from the fact they still have a kicker problem. Despite a ridiculously huge competition last year, it appears nothing they’ve done has solved a problem that has haunted them since Robbie Gould left.
Eddy Pineiro wasn’t terrible in 2019. Hopes were high he could build on that. Then he suffered a groin injury turning training camp and hasn’t been seen since. Head coach Matt Nagy hasn’t expressed much optimism regarding his recovery to this point. That has left the job in the hands of veteran Cairo Santos who has exactly run away with it.
In four games, the 28-year old is 5-of-7 on his field goal attempts. He missed one each against the Giants and Falcons. That doesn’t seem to have ingratiated him to the coaching staff. Evidenced by the revelation that Chicago had brought in journeyman Kai Forbath for a tryout.
Today’s tryout/visit list. pic.twitter.com/XkdZTUZUuO
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 6, 2020
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Shoutout to Kai Forbath who went 3/4 on field goals, including a 53-yarder that normally would have been the game-winner.
Nailed every extra point and was great on the kickoffs, with four touchbacks, too. pic.twitter.com/ORVdWVZl22
— Nick Olson (@NickOlsonNFL) January 16, 2018
Chicago Bears could do a lot worse than Forbath
While nobody would call Forbath a stud, he has a track record of at least being a dependable kicker. Since 2016, he is 62-of-69 on his field goal attempts. That works out to an 89.9% accuracy rate. Pretty solid. He actually kicked for both Dallas and New England last season and was a perfect 11-of-11 on his attempts. While not known for his distance, the man has experience and a passable track record.
The Bears have made no indication they intend to make a change but it’s hard not to read between the lines. Pineiro is no closer to a return. Santos hasn’t seized his opportunity. If Forbath looked presentable in his tryout, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s signed to the practice squad with an intention of taking over the job in the near future.
