Bears’ fans, where is your placekicking panic level?

The Chicago Bears had an off day yesterday as they caught their breath after a couple weeks in Bourbonnais for training camp, but they were back at practice today at Halas Hall. It was business as usual for the Chicago’s offense and defense, but the special teams continues to be what many fans are concerned with.

The kickers, Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro, both went 6 for 8 on field goals today and according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, both started out good but faltered. Specifics from practices are hard to come by, but my guess is that the Bears moved the attempts back as they kicked and the misses were from further out.

Colleen Kane from the Chicago Tribune reported that among each kickers miss was a doink off an upright.

She also reported that while at training camp, Fry was 48 of 59 on his field-goal attempts (81.4%) and Pineiro made 48 of 57 (84.2%).

Those numbers don’t necessarily invoke confidence, but the truth on which one is performing better probably lies somewhere between the numbers. Which has kicked the football consistently straighter? Which has been more accurate on kicks inside 50 yards? Which kicker has the mental capacity to bounce back after a miss or to kick when the pressure is on?

If the Bears stay in house, then this competition will continue through the next three preseason games, but they’ll still monitor the waiver wire just in case. And don’t count out the possibility of a trade.

Several reports had the Bears involved in the trade market for Ravens kicker Kaare Vedvik, who ultimately was sent to the Vikings for a 5th round pick, so the Bears will likely keep an eye on the situation in Carolina where Joey Slye has no chance to beat out Graham Gano. Slye just had a perfect night for the Panthers on Thursday in Chicago, and if he continues kicking well the Panthers could squeeze a pick out of a kicker needy team.

“He can kick his way into the league, that’s for doggone sure, and that’s what he is doing right now,” Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said via The Riot Report. “I promise you, Chicago is paying attention to what happened. Look at what happened with Minnesota, they made a deal the other day – so there’s currency out there to be had.”

In other camp news, wide out Anthony Miller (ankle) and outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (shoulder) remain sidelined.

When head coach Matt Nagy met the media today he said the reason they released UDFA receiver Emanual Hall was simply a “numbers” thing, and I’d imagine that’s all the info we’ll get from the Bears.

There was a also a fight today between Javon Wims and Prince Amukamara, with actual punches being thrown by Wims. Nagy said the incident is over and they all talked it out. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said “brothers fight, it is what it is,” and he seemed more irritated that their critical practice time was cut into by the altercation.

Trubisky is all business between the lines and he and Nagy had some one on one time today about where they’re at as an offense. “Right now we’re both really happy, we’re excited, I’m cautiously optimistic about just our offense in general and our team,” Nagy said.

When asked specifically if he and his QB are on the same page he said, “Oh yeah, we’re in a phenomenal spot right now, I love where we’re at, not one thing has changed with our offense in general. I feel really good. It’s fun testing it out what we’re doing right now.”

The next test for the Bears will be this Friday night against the New York Giants.