One day after the Chicago Bears’ all-time leading scorer kicked his former team right where it hurts – the loss column – the team found itself searching the waiver wire for kicking help.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that kicker Cairo Santos will be placed on injured reserve. Santos made both of his extra-point attempts in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but was unavailable in the second half because of a tweaked groin.
Biggs also reports the team is expected to sign Mike Nugent to replace him on the active roster, which sets up for a Mike Nugent Revenge Game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Nugent played 98 games over seven seasons with the Bengals, making 81.8 percent of his kicks from 2010 to 2016.
The 35-year-old who played his college ball at Ohio State made 7 of 9 field goal attempts in four games with the Dallas Cowboys this season. He has also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets in his 13-year career.
When Santos is officially placed on IR, his time with the Bears will have ended having made just 1 of 2 attempted field goals. Moreover, his season will end with the same health concerns as he did before signing with the Bears.
If you’ll recall, it was a groin injury that led to the Kansas City Chiefs parting ways with Santos and making him a free agent. The Bears brought in Santos for a tryout and stuck it out with Connor Barth until he missed a game-tying field goal against the Detroit Lions.