Bears sign undrafted kicker Jones

The Chicago Bears said Monday they had signed kicker Redford Jones.

There is wide speculation that the Bears will part with Cody Parkey, who missed 11 kicks in his first season in Chicago. That included a 43-yard attempt, partially blocked, that would have beaten Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.

The 24-year-old Jones played at Tulsa and was not drafted after going 12 of 16 on field goals and 44 of 45 on extra point tries as a senior in 2017.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has vowed to upgrade the kicker position. Chicago faces a $5.2 million salary cap hit if it releases Parkey without a June 1 designation.

Kansas City receiver arrested: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAnthony Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The sheriff’s office in southeast Kansas’ Allen County said that Thomas was booked Saturday. The 26-year-old from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, has since been released on bond.

Thomas finished his fifth season with the Chiefs on the injured reserve list after suffering a fracture in October in the same leg he fractured the previous season.

He is set to be a free agent when the market opens in a few months.

Detroit linebacker undergoing evaluation: Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Bates is undergoing a psychological evaluation at a New York City hospital after his weekend arrest on charges accusing him of punching a police officer after failing to pay a taxi fare, his agent said.

The evaluation is delaying Bates’ arraignment on charges including assault, resisting arrest and theft of services, authorities said.

Bates, 25, was arrested early Saturday at a hotel near LaGuardia Airport after allegedly refusing to pay a $32 cab fare for a ride from Manhattan.