Report: Bears begin working out kickers

The Chicago Bears appear to be starting their search to replace kicker Cody Parkey early. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter the Bears are working out six-to-seven kickers, including former New York Jet Nick Folk on Friday.

TSN.ca with Canadian Press files

Cody Parkey , The Canadian Press

The Chicago Bears appear to be starting their search to replace kicker Cody Parkey early.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter the Bears are working out six-to-seven kickers, including former New York Jet Nick Folk on Friday.

Nick Folk is hardly the only kicker the Bears are working out. There is a fairly wide net they are casting. There are likely to around 6-7 kickers working out, including Folk, per source. Early workout date for kickers. https://t.co/p4T19G8m5o
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2019

Parkey's time in Chicago appears to be coming to an end after his potential game-winning field goal hit the left upright and crossbar in a 16-15 wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia Eagles. The missed field goal was officially ruled a block after the loss, but Bears general manager Ryan Pace called place kicking "position of emphasis for us" in his season-ending media availability.

Parkey, who just completed the first season of a four-year contract, made just 23 of 30 field goals for the third-lowest conversion rate in the NFL. He was 42 of 45 on extra points.

"However many (free agents) we signed last year, you're never going to bat a thousand," Pace said. "I know Cody wishes he had a better season. We wish he had a better season, too."

Folk spent last season out of the NFL and appeared in only four games in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 34-year-old has a career 80.3 per cent conversion rate on 305 career field goals.