Bears sign Jay Feely

ByJeff Dickerson ESPN logo
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

CHICAGO -- With kicker Robbie Gould's availability in doubt, the Chicago Bears signed veteran kicker Jay Feely on Wednesday, the team announced.

The Bears, who host the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, listed Gould as doubtful on the official injury report due to a right quadriceps injury.

Gould did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday.

Feely kicked in the NFL for 13 seasons until the Arizona Cardinals released him in late August. The veteran connected on 329 of 398 field goal attempts during stints with Arizona (2010-13), the New York Jets (2008-09), the Miami Dolphins (2007), the New York Giants (2005-06) and the Atlanta Falcons (2001-04).

Bears special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis and Feely have history together. DeCamillis coached Feely for four seasons in Atlanta. That comfort level no doubt played a role in Feely joining the Bears.

Gould is the eighth-most accurate kicker in NFL history, converting 243 of 284 career field goal attempts (85.6 percent). He has converted on 9 of 12 field goals and 28 of 29 PAT attempts this season. Gould missed the final three regular-season games in 2012 with a leg injury that required offseason surgery.

To make room for Feely, the Bears waived injured WR/KR Chris Williams.

In other injury news, the Bears listed wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (hamstring), defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff (knee) and safety Chris Conte (eye) as questionable for Thursday night.

Jeffery (67 catches for 854 yards and seven TDs) skipped practice Tuesday but returned to the field in a limited fashion Wednesday. Ratliff and Conte were also limited.

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