The Chicago Bears will go for their fifth straight win when they travel to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. While Lamar Jackson’s status may be the biggest concern for Ben Johnson and his team, the Bears head coach also may have to make a decision at kicker in the days leading up to the game.
Jake Moody has held down the kicker position over the past two weeks as Cairo Santos has been sidelined with a thigh injury. But Johnson has made it clear that Santos is the team’s kicker when he is fully healthy, and Moody has figuratively been looking over his shoulder leading up to his return.
That day may be coming as soon as this Sunday. CHGO’s Adam Hoge reported on Wednesday that Santos returned to practice in a limited capacity but “was upbeat with how it went.” Hoge continued that the plan was to “see how the thigh responds the rest of the week,” but with Santos’s reaction to Wednesday’s practice and the news, it seems like Moody could be on his way out of Chicago in the coming days.
Bears Face Tough Choice Between Reliable Cairo Santos and Rising Jake Moody
The Bears' kicking situation has been one of the interesting storylines during their four-game winning streak. Santos was injured in the Week 4 win over Las Vegas, and Hoge added that he did it while warming up on the sideline before he hit a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Hoge also noted the Bears “lost 19 yards of field position on a bad snap right before that FG, making it much tougher.”
Distance hasn’t been Santos’s strong suit during his career, as he’s made just 23-of-31 (74.1%) of his kicks from 50 or more yards during his career. With teams more willing to kick long-distance field goals, getting a kicker with Moody’s leg may have persuaded Bears fans to his side of the argument, but Johnson thus far hasn’t taken the bait.
The good news is that Moody shouldn’t have issues finding another chance. After getting released by the San Francisco 49ers after the season opener, Moody has done his job after being elevated from the Bears’ practice squad two weeks ago. He hit 4-of-5 field goals, including the game winner in the 25-24 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 6, and was perfect, making all six kicks, including four field goals in Sunday’s 26-14 win over the New Orleans Saints.
While Santos’s accuracy as an 85.5% career kicker is appealing, Moody’s upside as a long-term solution is also enticing. Although the Bears could attempt to sneak Moody back onto the practice squad, he would have to clear waivers, and with other teams desperate for kicking solutions, he’s probably played his way onto someone’s roster.
That’s why Santos’s health isn’t the only thing that should be on the Bears’ radar this week, as it could have Moody kicking for someone else in the near future.