When Bears kicker Eddy Piñeiro didn't kick at any point during training camp, it led to speculation about whether or not he'd be ready for Week 1. A month later, as Piñeiro remains sidelined with a groin injury, the Bears still insist that he's expected to return in 2020.
"I think he is still part of our plans, and I think he’s progressing," special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said. "I get updated by the trainers on that. Looking forward to when he can come back."
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Cairo Santos has filled in admirably for Piñeiro, going 7-9 on field goal attempts – while hitting all 10 extra points – through the first five games. After missing kicks in two of his first three games, Santos has been perfect (3-3) since the Week 4 loss to Indianapolis.
"I think he’s growing with the Chicago weather and I think his confidence is high and I really like where he’s at," Tabor said of Santos' 2-2 performance against Tampa Bay, which included a game-winner. "Those are two big kicks, and really proud of him and he has that ability and the offense did a great job of getting us in position there. So glad he made them.”
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As for signing Kai Forbath last week, Tabor chalked up the move as a precautionary measure.
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"I think what it brings is a security," he said. 'I mean obviously there’s a lot of COVID issues going around right now. 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. That’s where we’re at with him, and that gives us security."