Dec. 04--The Bears on Wednesday signed free-agent kicker Jay Feely. He likely will replace Robbie Gould, whom the team listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.
Gould missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with a sore quadriceps muscle.
The Bears waived/injured returner Chris Williams to make room for Feely.
Feely has played only one game at Soldier Field during his 14-year career. During that 2010 exhibition with the Cardinals, he did not attempt a field goal. One of his three kickoffs was a touchback.
During his career with five teams, Feely, 38, has made 82.7 percent of his field goals. He played for the Cardinals from 2010 through the 2014 preseason.
It is not known whether Feely or punter Pat O'Donnell will handle kickoff duties against the Cowboys. O'Donnell has experience doing so in college.
Gould hasn't missed a game since a calf injury cost him the final three of the 2012 season.
Williams appeared in seven games this season and returned one kickoff for a touchdown against the Packers. The Bears signed former Pro Bowler Marc Mariani to replaced him on Nov. 18 because Williams was out with a hamstring injury.
Brent back? It's unlikely but Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent hopes to be active Thursday and play in an NFL game for the first time in two years.
Brent, a fourth-year veteran out of Illinois, last played against the Eagles on Dec. 2, 2012. Six days later, he was the driver of a crash that killed his best friend, Jerry Brown. Brent was found guilty of intoxication manslaughter and served jail time. He also has failed two drug tests (marijuana) since then, ESPN.com reported, citing court records.
Brent has been eligible to be included on the active game day roster for each of the Cowboys' last two games but was declared inactive. Brent told reporters in Dallas this week he sees no reason for Thursday's game to be any different.
"Putting me in there is not going to deter people from running the ball or stop people's game plan," Brent told reporters. "We've won eight games with the guys who are in there because they can get the job done. I think obviously, the coaching staff will continue doing what they've been doing."
