While the Bears’ preseason doesn’t carry many starter implications, one of the focal points will fall on the kicker competition.
The Bears have been doing everything they can to put Elliott Fry and Eddy Pineiro in pressure situations, without live game action.
That all changes Thursday, when the Bears open the preseason against the Carolina Panthers.
For the first several training camp practices, Matt Nagy had been rotating Fry and Pineiro each day, giving them an entire practice, regardless of the circumstances.
Over the past few practices, both Fry and Pineiro kicked on the same day, which garnered mixed results.
That trend will continue Thursday, as both kickers will get a chance against the Panthers.
With the starters not likely to see much playing time, you have to wonder how much focus will be on the kickers.
While Nagy said they weren’t going to kick on third down, you have to wonder if that mindset changes given the importance of determining a starting kicker in a competition that is dead even at this point.
