Bears to stay with Pineiro as beginning kicker
LAKE FOREST, In poor health. — The Chicago Bears will open the common season Thursday night time in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers with Eddy Pineiro as their beginning place-kicker, coach Matt Nagy introduced on Sunday.
“We really feel like he is definitely earned it,” Nagy mentioned. “We put him — he made it by way of numerous psychological challenges, bodily challenges, working by way of the highs and lows.
“It’s going to be enjoyable to observe. It’s going to be fascinating to see how he handles it. However he deserves it. He earned each proper to be our kicker. And we be ok with it.”
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Pineiro was the lone kicker on Chicago’s coaching camp roster for the ultimate two exhibition video games after the Bears waived Elliott Fry on Aug. 18.
Pineiro made eight of his final 9 kicks within the preseason, together with 5-for-5 on subject purpose makes an attempt in Chicago’s remaining two preseason video games. Pineiro did badly miss an additional level attempt within the Bears’ exhibition finale versus the Tennessee Titans.
“Now it is a huge stress off the shoulders,” Pineiro mentioned on Sunday. “Simply obtained to make kicks now, do what I have been doing this preseason. I have been making kicks.”
Pineiro, whom the Bears acquired through commerce with the Oakland Raiders, spent Sunday morning kicking at Soldier Discipline earlier than returning to the group facility. An undrafted rookie out of Florida final yr, Pineiro has but to aim a kick in an NFL regular-season recreation.
“I imply, it is numerous weight lifted off my shoulders,” Pineiro mentioned. “Excited to be the man; and this group believes in me, and — giving me a shot to be the place I am at, and I simply wish to make them joyful.”
Nevertheless, Nagy cautioned that Pineiro should produce as a way to preserve the job.
“In the long run, for all of us, it is about manufacturing,” Nagy mentioned. “When are these kicks coming? How typically are they coming? And he is aware of that. We’re actual with him. We’re sincere with him. However we attempt not to consider the glass-half-empty sort deal. He is obtained actual good confidence going about him proper now. We as a workers have an actual good confidence going about us. We be ok with it.”