Chicago Bears Training Camp 2019: Checking in on the kicker situation

The Chicago Bears tried out several kickers this offseason, they had some unconventional practice methods for said kickers, they often had them replicate the 43-yard double-doink heard round the world, and they added a kicking consultant, all in the hopes to find one man capable of filling the job for the 2019 season.

They settled on Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro to do battle during training camp and so far both have risen to the challenge.

According to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, Fry has gone 34 for 40 (85.0%) on field goals, while Pineiro has gone 32 for 36 (88.9%) during camp practices thus far.

Now it’s not exactly game situations, but those are both good numbers for the two young kickers.

Heading into camp the scouting reports for each guy was an interesting contrast. Fry has accuracy but leg strength questions, whereas Pineiro has the big leg but not as accurate. So far, both have been fairly accurate and both have hit long kicks.

Wouldn’t it be something if general manager Ryan Pace, who has admittedly struggled in finding kickers, has found two capable of doing the job?

Word from camp still has Pineiro’s leg stronger, and that could be the deciding factor in this battle. If he can keep his mechanics in check and maintain his accuracy, then he’s likely winning the job. His kickoffs have regularly been boomed out of the end zone.

Last night at Soldier Field during Family Fest, Pineiro had a perfect 12 for 12 night on field goals, while Fry went 7 for 9. Head coach Matt Nagy would probably like to have their guy as soon as possible, but the team isn’t going to rush a decision. “It obviously matters what they’re doing right now, we said that you’ve got to — we need to see everything we can possibly see,” Nagy said via NBC Sports. “And then when they get their chances in the preseason that’s obviously going to have a lot of weight on it.”

The Bears first preseason game is on Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers where both are likely to see some action.