EDDY PINEIRO NEWS

Greg Zuerlein wins kicking job as Jets cut Eddy Pineiro

Greg Zuerlein booted his way to a win in the New York Jets’ kicking competition, beating out incumbent Eddy Pineiro

AUGUST 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Re-signed by Jets Pineiro signed a one-year deal worth up to $2.75 million with the Jets on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Pineiro, who was a restricted free agent, was tendered by the Jets earlier in March and will return to the team in 2022 after converting all 17 of his kicks in 2021. He'll presumably compete with Greg Zuerlein, who the Jets recently signed, for the starting gig during training camp.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jets tender restricted free agent Eddy Pineiro for $2.4 million Former Florida kicker Eddy Pineiro has positioned himself to win one of the 32 starting kicking jobs in the NFL.

MARCH 16, 2022 • 247SPORTS.COM

Tendered by Jets Pineiro, a restricted free agent, received a $2.43 million contract tender from the Jets on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Pineiro played well down the stretch for New York in 2021, converting all eight of his field-goal tries and all nine of his extra-point attempts. Granted, that sample size came in just five contests, but Pineiro's accuracy left the team with little need to explore an alternative answer at placekicker. While Matt Ammendola is also sticking with the Jets via a reserve/future contract, Pineiro appears to be the favorite to open the 2022 season as the team's kicker.

MARCH 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Continues to play well with Jets Pineiro converted a 51-yard field-goal attempt and all three of his PAT attempts in Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Pineiro has made all seven of his field-goal attempts in four games with the Jets heading into next week's season finale against Buffalo. New York chose not to give him another opportunity in scoring range late, instead opting to go for it on 4th-and-2 with a four-point lead in an attempt to put the game away. The decision backfired, as the Buccaneers got the stop and then drove it down the other way for the game-winning touchdown.

JANUARY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Unfazed by blocked PAT Pineiro made both of his field-goal attempts and two of three PAT attempts in Sunday's 26-21 win over Jacksonville.

Impact Pineiro's first kick of the game was a blocked PAT, but he bounced back nicely, making his next PAT attempt for his lone successful kick of the first half. He was much busier in the second half, converting field goals from 42 and 20 yards out in addition to another PAT. The injury-riddled Jets offense moved the ball well against the lowly Jaguars, but that may not be the case in Week 17 against the Buccaneers, so Pineiro could suffer from a lack of opportunities.

DECEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Another accurate outing Pineiro made his lone field-goal attempt and converted three PAT attempts in Sunday's 31-24 loss to Miami.

Impact Pineiro has made all seven of his kicks through two games as a Jet. His field goal in this one came from 27 yards out. With the Jaguars coming to town in Week 16, Pineiro could have some sneaky appeal for those trying to play matchups at kicker in the fantasy playoffs.

DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Accurate in Gang Green debut Pineiro made all three of his field-goal attempts in Sunday's 30-9 loss to the Saints.

Impact There weren't many positives for New York to take out of its latest blowout loss, but Pineiro's accurate performance in his Jets debut was a silver lining for a team that's tried three different kickers in its last three games. Pineiro connected from 36, 46 and 36 yards out, and Gang Green's kicking job will likely be his for the remainder of the season if he can build on this strong first impression.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Signs with Jets Pineiro signed with the Jets on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact The 26-year-old veteran will join New York's active roster just one day after Alex Kessman missed both his extra-point attempts in his NFL debut. Pineiro could see action with the Jets if Kessman's struggles continue.

DECEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets injury settlement Washington cut Pineiro (undisclosed) from its practice squad with an injury settlement Saturday, independent NFL journalist Aaron Wilson reports.

Impact After serving as the Bears' kicker during the 2019 season, Pineiro came out of camp last year in the same position, only to hit IR to start the campaign. He remained there all season due to a groin injury, allowing Cairo Santos to handle placekicking duties in Chicago. Pineiro didn't find a new home until May, when the Colts signed him to compete with Rodrigo Blankenship, but he was sent packing in the middle of the preseason. Once rosters were cut down last week, Washington signed him to the practice squad, but an unknown injury has resulted in him hitting the market again.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joins Washington's practice squad Pineiro has latched on with Washington's practice squad, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Impact Pineiro will serve as depth at kicker in the event that Dustin Hopkins is forced to miss some time at some point. He' s unlikely to hold a spot on the active roster during 2021 barring that scenario, unless of course Hopkins struggles greatly.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Let go by Indianapolis The Colts waived Pineiro on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Pineiro was impressive during the preseason, as he didn't miss a single kick, so he could reasonably draw interest from teams around the league. His departure is a clear indication that Rodrigo Blankenship has emerged victorious in the Colts' kicking competition.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Colts cut kicker Eddy Pineiro Rodrigo Blankenship will likely be the Colts kicker to start the 2022 season.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • INDYSTAR.COM

Converts all three FG attempts Pineiro made all three of his field-goal attempts from 31, 50 and 28 yards, in Saturday's preseason win over Minnesota.

Impact Both Rodrigo Blankenship and Pineiro have been nearly perfect in training camp and the preseason. Blankenship will likely retain this starting job from last season unless he stumbles however. Pineiro could draw interest from other NFL teams if he has another strong preseason game next week.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Insider: Rodrigo Blankenship, Eddy Pineiro quietly waging kicker battle at Colts camp The Colts' kicker competition has gotten buried beneath big headlines: 'Rod had a great year last year, but iron sharpens iron and Eddy is t...

AUGUST 5, 2021 • INDYSTAR.COM

Part of open kicker competition Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich said Wednesday that the Colts will have an open competition at placekicker between Rodrigo Blankenship and Pineiro during OTAs and training camp...

Impact Blankenship is the incumbent, coming off a rookie season in which he converted 32 of 37 field-goal attempts and 43 of 45 extra-point tries. However, he didn't demonstrate a particularly strong leg, going 1-for-3 on kicks of 50 yards or more. Pineiro made both his 50-yard attempts when he last played for the Bears in 2019, but he spent the entire 2020 campaign on injured reserve with a groin injury. Blankenship has to be a heavy favorite for the job at this stage.

MAY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Spends season on injured reserve Pineiro (groin) failed to see the field in 2020 after landing on injured reserve on September 8.

Impact At first, Pineiro was expected to have a realistic chance to return to action after a three-week stint on injured reserve had concluded, but with Cairo Santos proving to be a reliable kicking option for the Bears, Pineiro was never activated. With his contract having expired, he'll hit unrestricted free agency, and after making 82 percent of his field goals in 2019, he'll likely have a solid chance of earning a kicking job for 2021.

JANUARY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Week 4 return unlikely Coach Matt Nagy doesn't think Pineiro (groin) will be ready to play against the Colts in Week 4, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Chicago would need to remove Pineiro from IR before he can play, and Cairo Santos will continue to fill in as long as Pineiro remains sidelined. The Bears have a short week before facing the Buccaneers on Thursday in Week 5, so Pineiro will be hard-pressed to heal up in time for that one.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

With Eddy Pineiro on IR, Cairo Santos is ready to step in Veteran kicker Cairo Santos is ready to fill in for Eddy Pineiro for at least the first three weeks of the 2020 season.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • 247SPORTS.COM

Bears place kicker Pineiro on IR because of groin injury

Chicago Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro will miss at least the first three games of the season because of a groin injury after the team placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Out at least three weeks The Bears placed Pineiro (groin) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Impact The NFL's new IR rules for 2020 will allow the Bears to activate Pineiro after he sits out three games, so if he moves past the groin injury by the end of September, he could be ready to step back in as the team's kicker beginning in Week 4 against the Colts. In the interim, the Bears are expected to promote Cairo Santos from the practice squad to handle kicking duties.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Unlikely to play Week1 Pineiro (groin) didn't attempt field goals during the media portion of training camp practices and is unlikely to be available for at least Week 1, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribu...

Impact With Cairo Santos expected to be released, the Bears could try to bring him back on the practice squad, so that he can replace Pineiro to start the season. In addition, if the team desires to move Pineiro to injured reserve and bring him back during the season, they must wait until Monday to make that move. For now, Pineiro is not a recommended fantasy option unless his situation is resolved and he's back on the field as the starting kicker.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Path to No. 1 role Head coach Matt Nagy hinted that the Bears could roster both Pineiro (groin) and Cairo Santos, Adam Hoge of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Impact Nagy didn't confirm whether this meant both would be on the active roster or if one would be on the practice squad, but it likely means Pineiro is sticking in Chicago regardless of how the competition against Santos plays out. Even with Pineiro's injury, he's regarded as the No. 1 kicker for the time being.

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Competition brought in Pineiro, who has been dealing with a groin issue of late, "hasn't attempted a kick in front of reporters all week," according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.

Impact With that in mind, it's not surprising that the Bears plan to sign Cairo Santos to provide insurance and/or competition for Pineiro, who previously had seemed to cement the team's kicking job after Ramiz Ahmed was waived earlier this month.

AUGUST 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Bears set to sign veteran kicker Cairo Santos, raising questions about Eddy Pineiro’s status The Bears' decision to sign kicker Cairo Santos came as a surprise Saturday. What does it mean for Eddy Pineiro's status?

AUGUST 23, 2020 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM