Zach Miller’s luck ran out.
The Bears’ tight end overcame a dreadful history of season-ending injuries from 2011-14 to play 15 games with the Bears last season and start all 10 this season. But he suffered a broken right foot late in the second quarter against the Giants on Sunday and likely will be out for the season.
It’s just his luck that Miller, who signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract in the offseason, was hurt having one of his best games of the season. He had three receptions for 61 yards in the first half, including a 34-yard touchdown on a pin-point pass from Jay Cutler that gave the Bears 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
“He started off hot,” Cutler said. “We were getting him matched up with some linebackers which we felt pretty good about going into the game. Not to have those guys [Miller and Alshon Jeffery], it’s difficult.”
With Miller out, the Bears relied on tight end Logan Paulsen and rookie Ben Braunecker. Neither caught a pass Sunday.
Old Home Week
Former Bears place-kicker Robbie Gould kicked a 46-yard field goal, but missed two-of-three extra points in an emotional game against his former teammates.
“This was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be,” said Gould, the frachise record-holder in career points, field goals made and field-goal accuracy who was cut by the Bears on Sept. 5. “Just seeing everybody; saying hello to everybody; everybody coming up … I didn’t expect as many people to come up and say ‘Hey’ pre-game. I think I talked to every single person on the team, which is pretty special.
“But at the end of the day I’ve got to do my job and I didn’t do that to the best of my ability. I’m excited it’s behind me. I’ve got no hard feelings. Those guys mad a decsion they thought was best for their team. As a teammate to those guys, I have to respect that.”
Making progress
Deonte Thompson’s 40-yard kickoff return in the first quarter was the Bears’ longest of the season. The previous best was 32 yards, by Thompson against the Colts on Oct. 9.