The Bears are still trying to find their starting kicker.
Chicago's Matt Nagy told the Chicago Tribune on Friday the eight kickers brought into rookie camp are 'not good enough' right now.
#Bears coach Matt Nagy says he tried to create situation where it out heat on the 8 kickers at rookie camp. “Two for right is not good enough.” Yes, there were 6 misses in the 8 kicks (all from 43 yards) to end practice.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) May 3, 2019
Nagy had eight kickers attempt a 43-yard field goal following Friday's practice, but only two converted their chances. The distance is significant, as former kicker Cody Parkey's double-doink miss on a game-winning 43-yard attempt at Soldier Field during last year's playoffs brought Chicago's season to an end.
The Bears have since released Parkey, who signed a four-year deal worth $15 million before last season, making him the league's fourth-highest paid place kicker. Parkey, 27, missed a career-high seven field goals in the 2018-19 season, but Chicago could be worse off if none of his replacement candidates can rise to the top.
Four of the eight place kickers are under contract and Nagy says the pressure is on for all of them to compete.
“These guys have to compete,” Nagy told the Chicago Sun-Times as minicamp approached. “Get them out there and let them compete. It’s not going to be kicker specifically. It’s not going to be an easy competition. It’s about making your kicks under pressure and it’s as simple as that. Either you make it or you don’t. We’re going to test them out.
“It’ll all play itself out — I know it will,” Nagy continued. “(General manager) Ryan (Pace) and I have had long discussions about that, but I can promise you that Ryan has done an amazing job with his personnel scouts and turned over every rock to see who is out there and give them a chance. And let’s go.”
The Bears cut place kicker Robbie Gould in 2015, who is the franchise's all-time leader in points (1,207). He's spent his past two seasons with the 49ers, but reportedly demanded a trade after he and San Francisco couldn't come to an agreement on a long-term deal.
Some are hoping Gould could make a return to Chicago, who has posted the NFL's worst field goal percentage since his departure.
Gould has made 82 of his last 85 field goal attempts.