The Chicago Bears kicking competition will move forward without Elliott Fry
Matt Nagy wants production out of his kickers. He is taking the preseason seriously. So, when Elliott Fry missed a 47-yard kick in week 2 of the preseason, the trust was clearly broken and Fry was definitely in a tough spot.
We knew that Fry had a bad chance of making the roster, but what we eventually learned was that he would not make it through the weekend. The Chicago Bears released Fry on Sunday.
However, as Adam Schefter is reporting this does not mean that Eddy Piniero won the job. Heck, Pinierio missed in week 1, he is fortunate it was Fry and not him. Fry lost the competition, but the Bears need a winner. What this does do is open up another roster spot for a fresh face at kicker.
Look for the roster spot of Fry to be used on another kicker. That kicker should push Pinierio all week and into the third preseason game. If Piniero misses again from here, he is likley on the way out.
Will the Bears trade for a kicker? Did the Fry decision open that up to possibility? Maybe. Nonetheless, the emphasis that Pinierio did not win a job based on this decision rings loud.
This has to be looked at as an issue for Chicago. Before the draft, they said they would figure it out. Post-draft they said they did not need to draft a guy. Kickers signed in free agency and signed before camp.
The Bears looked at kicker in OTAs, in mini-camps, training camp and the preseason. Still, with two weeks to go they are looking outside of the franchise to bring in competition for a player they are not willing to announce as a winner yet.
The Bears keep saying not to worry, but they are running out of time. Who is going to be the Bears kicker?