During his Wednesday press conference, Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy confirmed Cairo Santos would replace Eddy Piñeiro as the team’s kicker in Week 1 against the Lions. Piñeiro has been nursing a groin injury that has limited him in practice and nudged the Bears toward re-signing Santos to the practice squad as a contingency plan.
Nagy was not that forthcoming when discussing David Montgomery’s status for Week 1:
.@ChicagoBears HC Matt Nagy right now on Zoom, says on David Montgomery (groin injury), “I think David Montgomery is gonna have a hell of a stretch practice today”.
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) September 9, 2020
Well, that’s certainly some curious phrasing from the Bears’ coach.
On the other hand, teammate Tarik Cohen sees things differently:
Matt Nagy still not saying anything about David Montgomery's status. But Tarik Cohen said today: "He bounced back off of that (injury) so fast. It's like it never happened. He's already back doing the things you love to see him doing."
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) September 9, 2020
Montgomery suffered a groin injury during practice on August 26. The initial reported diagnosis painted a more optimistic picture than expected, with a Week 1 return being a distinct possibility. However, one NFL insider viewed that as a long shot and suggested Montgomery was “doubtful” for Week 1. In other words, there was really no consensus on Montgomery’s status for Week 1. And even now, as we’re two weeks removed Montgomery’s injury happening, the Bears are no closer to revealing his status for the opener.
We haven’t seen much movement in the running backs room. Listing Cordarrelle Patterson with the backs is intriguing. Same for protecting undrafted rookie Artavis Pierce from being poached off the practice squad. But the Bears have had no visits, trades, or free agency signings to speak of lately. Maybe that’s a sign that Montgomery will give it a go on Sunday in Detroit. Or perhaps that’s what the Bears want you to think.
We’ll have a better idea of how Montgomery’s “stretch practice” went when the Bears release the injury report later this afternoon.