Cairo Santos: Why is not playing| Where is| Contract| News| Bears

Cairo Santos: Why Is He Not Playing? | Where Is He? | Contract | News | Bears

The Chicago Bears’ kicking game has drawn serious attention lately — and not always for the best reasons. At the center of the controversy is Cairo Santos, the veteran placekicker whose absence from recent games has left fans and analysts asking: Why is Cairo Santos not playing? Where is he? What is his contract status? In this article, we’ll walk through the full story: his injury situation, roster moves, contract terms, and most recent news around the Bears.

Who Is Cairo Santos?

Before digging into the current issue, it’s helpful to recap who Cairo Santos is:

• Full name: Cairo Fernandes Santos (born November 12, 1991)

• Position: Placekicker for the Chicago Bears (NFL)

• He is the first Brazilian-born player to appear in an NFL regular-season game and in the playoffs.

• He has had multiple stints in the NFL with teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and Chicago Bears (in two separate periods)

• During his time with the Bears, he has posted high field goal accuracy and has earned contract extensions reflecting the team’s trust in his consistency

Given his pedigree, any question about his absence becomes more noteworthy.

Why Is Cairo Santos Not Playing?

As of the most recent reports, Cairo Santos is inactive due to a right thigh (quadriceps) injury.

Here is a breakdown of the known facts and timeline:

1. Injury reported / questionable status

   • Ahead of the Bears’ matchup vs. Washington, Santos was listed as questionable with a right thigh injury.

   • However, that designation turned into him being placed on the inactive list, meaning he would not suit up for that game.

   • Reports specifically note that the injury did not heal sufficiently during Chicago’s bye week, contributing to his continued absence.

2. Roster move: Jake Moody elevated

   • With Santos inactive, the Bears elevated kicker Jake Moody from their practice squad to handle kicking duties for the game.

   • Moody, formerly with the San Francisco 49ers, had been released there after missing short field goals in Week 1, but now serves as an insurance or replacement in Santiago’s absence.

3. Performance impact & uncertainty

   • In his first game stepping in, Moody converted 4 of 5 field-goal attempts, including a game-winning 38-yard kick as time expired vs. Washington.

   • That result raises questions: is Santos’ absence temporary (injury-related), or will Moody’s strong performance push for a longer-term change? Analysts are watching closely.

To summarize: Cairo Santos is not playing because of a thigh (quad) injury severe enough for the Bears to rule him inactive, and they have activated Jake Moody to fill in.

Where Is Cairo Santos?

The short answer: he is with the team, but inactive, recovering from injury.

• He is on Chicago’s roster — the injury did not lead to a cut or release at this point.

• He has not been placed on injured reserve (IR), at least in publicly available reports, which would have sidelined him for a longer period.

• Instead, he is presumably in treatment, rehabilitation, or being monitored by the medical staff while Jake Moody handles game duties.

• His status (questionable, probable, active) could change week to week depending on how his thigh injury heals.

Therefore, when people ask “Where is he?”, the answer is: he’s inactive with the Bears due to injury, not transferred or released.

Contract & Financials: What Do We Know?

Cairo Santos has a multi-year contract with the Bears. Here are the known contract details:

• In December 2023, Santos signed a 4-year extension with Chicago running through the 2027 season.

• That extension was valued at approximately USD 16 million, with USD 9.5 million guaranteed.

• Earlier, in March 2021, he had signed a 3-year deal worth USD 9 million with the Bears.

• According to a report, in the 2025 season, he has USD 3.1 million guaranteed, but the Bears could save about USD 3.2 million if they cut him post-June 6 of the next year (i.e., after certain roster or cap deadlines).

• This structure gives the Bears some flexibility: they carry a financial commitment, but there’s room for cuts or restructuring depending on performance and availability.

So financially, Santos is still under contract, with guaranteed money protecting his acceleration. However, due to injury and possible roster competition, the Bears have options to move on depending on how the season unfolds.

Recent News & Updates

Here are some of the latest developments around Cairo Santos and the Bears’ kicking situation:

• Jake Moody’s success in first start
  As noted earlier, Moody delivered under pressure, making 4 of 5 kicks and sealing a 25–24 win vs. Washington with a 38-yarder as time expired.

• Roster dynamics
  The Bears had already added Moody to the practice squad earlier in the season, making him available as insurance for Santos’ health issues. 
  The move was considered low-risk but with upside, since Moody has a strong leg though mixed consistency historically.

• Criticism of coaching decisions and kicking strategy
  In the Bears’ Week 1 Monday Night Football loss, coach Ben Johnson faced backlash for instructing Santos to kick through the end zone late in the game — the kick fell short, allowing a return and burning time. Some analysts argue a safer directional kick or onside attempt would have been wiser. 
  Whether that decision or pressure from fan base impacts Santos’ standing is speculative, but it’s a narrative angle to watch.

• Historic moments still coming
  Earlier in 2025, Santos nailed a 51-yard game-winning field goal to break a losing streak against the Green Bay Packers.
  That moment still resonates for Chicago fans and underscores that he can perform in clutch pressure situations.

• Past controversy
  In a 2024 game vs. Green Bay, the Bears alleged that the Packers committed a penalty in coverage of Santos’ kick, leading to a blocked field goal. The team planned to appeal or send video evidence to the NFL.

Taken together, these developments show that Santos’ absence is not purely an injury footnote — it’s part of a larger story about performance, roster decisions, and the evolving role of special teams under scrutiny.

What It All Means for the Bears

From an organizational and fan perspective, here are the implications:

1. Short-term continuity vs. risk of change
   The Bears, in keeping Santos under contract rather than cutting him immediately, signal that they’re betting on him returning. But Moody’s strong showing adds pressure: if Santos’ rehab lags or he shows rust, the team may consider a change.

2. Cap flexibility
   The guaranteed money and post-June cut savings clause gives the Bears a financial buffer to pivot if necessary.

3. Performance and pressure
   Missing games due to injury always raises questions about consistency and durability — especially for kickers, where a few misses can shift momentum drastically.

4. Fan sentiment
   Santos has had memorable successes with Chicago (such as the 51-yard FG vs. Green Bay). That goodwill may give him extra leeway, but fan patience is not infinite if missed games accumulate.

In short: the next few weeks (and health reports) will be pivotal in determining whether Cairo Santos remains Chicago’s kicker long-term or if Moody (or another option) sees a longer run. Cairo Santos not playing.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Why exactly is Cairo Santos inactive?

He is inactive due to a right thigh (quadriceps) injury. It was listed as “questionable” initially but escalated to an inactive status nearer game day.

2. Is Cairo Santos released or cut from the Bears?

No — he remains under contract with the Bears. He has not been released or placed on injured reserve, as of the latest reports.

3. Who is kicking in his place?

The Bears elevated Jake Moody from their practice squad to handle kicking duties in his absence.

4. How has Moody performed so far?

In his first start for Chicago, Moody made 4 of 5 field goals and drilled a game-winning 38-yarder as time expired.

5. What is Cairo Santos’ current contract?

He signed a 4-year, USD 16 million extension in December 2023, with USD 9.5 million guaranteed. In 2025, he has USD 3.1 million guaranteed, and the Bears could save USD 3.2 million by cutting him after June 6 of the next year.

6. Will he return this season?

That depends on the pace of his recovery, how the Bears view his health, and whether Moody continues to perform well. No official return date has been announced.

7. Does this injury affect his long-term job security?

Potentially, yes. For a kicker, missed games raise performance and reliability questions. But with guaranteed money and past success, Santos still has leverage — provided he can return to form.