Bears Trying Out Five Kickers At Minicamp

According to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bears will try out five kickers during rookie minicamp this weekend, including:

• San Diego State K John Barron
• Minnesota State-Mankato P/K Casey Bednarski
• Minnesota K Emmit Carpenter
• McNeese State P/K Alex Kjellsten
• Purdue K Spencer Evans

Bears GM Ryan Pace has said the team will be thorough in its search for a replacement for K Cody Parkey, whose infamous missed field goal that bounced twice off the uprights ended the Bears’ season. 

“‘Thorough’ is the word I want to use,” Pace said Saturday night. “‘Thorough.’ Like looking under every stone and being thorough with this whole evaluation.”

Barron, 23, made all five of his attempts beyond 50 yards for the Aztecs last season, and was 17 for 22 on all field goal attempts. 

Carpenter was 53 for 67 on field goal attempts in three years at Minnesota. 

Bednarski made 15 of 23 field goal attempts with a long of 55 yards. 

Kjellsten averaged 43.8 yards on 78 punts last season and also handled kickoffs, hitting 34 touchbacks on 51 attempts. 

Evans was 18 of 23 on field goal attempts for Purdue, with a long field goal of 24 yards.