Since the Chicago Bears played on Monday night, they didn't have a full practice or release an official injury report on Wednesday. Instead, they released an estimated injury report after their walk-through, and some of the names there should be concerning for Bears fans.
There were multiple key contributors who were listed as "did not practice," including Jonah Jackson, Grady Jarrett, DJ Moore, and Noah Sewell, per The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs. The other name on the list was kicker Cairo Santos, who may be in line to miss his second straight game with a right thigh injury.
Thursday's update raises kicker questions heading into the matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The Bears elevated Jake Moody from the practice squad and delivered a strong performance in Week 6, setting a Bears record for the most successful field goals in a debut.
Moody made four of his five field goal attempts, the only miss being a blocked kick, and his only extra point attempt. If Santos can't go on Sunday, the Bears will once again turn to Moody for his second elevation of the season.
Jake Moody May Be in Line for Another Start After Cairo Santos DNP
Even though Moody performed well above expectations in his debut, few kickers are as reliable as Santos. The Brazilian kicker has made over 89% of his field goals in his Bears career and has consistently been one of the more accurate kickers in the league. Moody, on the other hand, is still recovering from his disastrous San Francisco 49ers career, where he missed 16 of his 62 field goal attempts, including the 27-yard and 36-yard field goals he missed in Week 1 this season that led to his release.
Moody's talent is undeniable. He was one of the highest-drafted kickers in recent memory, being selected in the third round by the 49ers in the 2023 NFL draft. When he came out of Michigan, he was considered one of the best kicking prospects to come into the league. Yet, so much of kicking is mental. Once you get into a bad rhythm, it can be difficult to dig yourself out — especially when every miss is amplified and costly to your team. If Moody gains his confidence back, this stint with the Bears could earn him another starting spot elsewhere in the NFL.
Before he can start worrying about that, though, Moody needs to focus on the present since it seems like Santos may miss another week.