Bears kicker status is in question for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos was a surprising addition on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Indeed, the Bears are currently bracing for the possibility that they will be without their kicker this weekend.
Santos was excused from Thursday's practice for personal reasons and was not spotted when Friday's short practice was open for media viewing.
If Santos doesn't play, special teams coordinator Richard Hightower will also need a replacement on kickoffs. It's a chore Santos split in preseason with punter Trenton Gill, so it's possible the rookie could handle those duties. Santos has made 89.7% of his field goals since joining the team for a second stint in 2020, taking the job when Eddy Pineiro was sidelined by injury.
The Bears have listed Santos as questionable on their injury report Friday.
He made field goals from 47 and 50 yards before hitting the 30-yarder on the final play of a 23-20 win over the Houston Texans last Sunday at Soldier Field. He's 4-for-4 on field goals on the season and rebounded from two missed extra points during a driving rainstorm in the Week 1 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
He set a franchise record in 2020 when he made 30-of-32 field goal attempts (93.8%), earning a $9 million, three-year contract. Santos followed it up by going 26-of-30 on field goals in 2021.
