The Bears’ kicking situation knotted up a bit more Wednesday when struggling kicker Doug Brien was placed on the weekly injury report while newly signed Tyler Jones handled all place-kicking duties.
With head coach Lovie Smith and special teams coach Dave Toub watching closely, even in warmups before practice, Jones clanked a couple of early kicks off the uprights but appeared to settle in on a windy day.
Brien is a clearly unsatisfactory 1-for-4 on field-goal attempts, but Toub stressed Jones’ signing was the result of the back tightness that Brien began experiencing while running last Thursday.
“We’re concerned, but our trainers will get him healthy,” Toub said.
Tightness on the left side of a right-footed kicker’s back can be a problem with the twisting motion. The Bears don’t have to make a decision on Brien until closer to kickoff but could want two kickers active.
Jones is signed to the practice squad and could be moved to the active roster only if a slot was opened either by a cut or moving someone like quarterback Rex Grossman from active to injured reserve.
Jones, who was working out in Boise, Idaho, when the Bears called, has kicked for Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington and Cleveland since the Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent after this year’s draft.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Jones said. “I’m going to go out and show them how much I’ve improved. They haven’t really laid anything out. Basically, I just have to do the best I can and take it from there.”
Jones kicked an exhibition game-winning field goal for Cleveland and “anytime you can get some game experience and get some more game film, it’s positive,” he said.
The kicking situation is critical because the Bears are built around an offense that avoids mistakes, a defense that keeps games close into fourth quarters and a kicking game capable of winning games late.
The Bears have used more than one kicker in a season only twice in non-strike years since 1982. Jeff Jaeger was signed to replace Carlos Huerta three games into 1996.
In 1999 the Bears went to Northwestern’s Brian Gowins for the first two games while Jaeger worked through a hip injury. After Jaeger went 2-for-8 in three games, he was put on injured reserve and Chris Boniol signed for the next 10 games. The team wearied of Boniol’s 11-for-18 kicking and signed Jaret Holmes for the final game.
Sox watch
The White Sox scored more runs (14) in their first playoff game than the Bears did combined in their two losses. If the Bears could score anything close to the Sox, “that’d be nice,” quarterback Kyle Orton said. “With our defense, we’d win a lot of games if we scored like that.”
Extra points
Safety Mike Brown, second on the team behind Lance Briggs in tackles (27) and second behind Nathan Vasher in pass breakups, was held out of practice with a sore hamstring. Tight end Desmond Clark (neck) was in full pads and practicing Wednesday. Cornerback Jerry Azumah (hip) had his usual Wednesday no-practice day. Azumah, Brien, Brown and Clark are listed as probable. . . .
Preparing for Cleveland rookie wide receiver Braylon Edwards, cornerback Charles Tillman worked after practice one-on-one with wide receiver Justin Gage, who wore a blue “17” jersey to simulate Edwards for the Bears’ defense. Edwards, who has been the Browns’ No. 3 receiver, is a big, physical receiver and difficult to jam at the line. . . . Defensive tackle Orpheus Roye, the Browns’ best defensive lineman, practiced Wednesday but is listed as questionable with a knee injury. . . . Linebacker Joe Odom had the cast removed from the left ankle he sprained against Detroit. Odom still must wear a walking boot and said he’s two weeks away from returning.
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jmullin@tribune.com
