The Bears sign backup punter to Practice Squad

The Bears signed punter Zac Atterberry to the practice squad this morning to replace guard Tyler Reed, who was released

Atterberry was on the team through the summer and averaged 41.5 yards in the preseason with a net of 39.5.

He has had four workouts since, including one in Green Bay on Monday.

''All I can tell you is they're bringing him in and they're going to put him through a fire drill,'' said Rob Sheets, Atterberry's agent. ''They want to see what they have in him and make sure he is at where he was when he left.''

It's a curious move considering teams rarely have two punters around.

Brad Maynard, who missed a game last season with a pulled groin muscle, leads the league with 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and has had only 11 of his 31 kicks returned.

Signing Atterberry might be in preparation for a potential emergency down the road.