>>Bears Kicker To Miss Rest of Season

Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould will miss the remainder of the season after injuring his left calf.

The Bears placed Gould on injured-reserve on Tuesday and signed veteran kicker Olindo Mare to a 1-year contract. They also placed cornerback Sherrick McManis (knee) and safety Craig Steltz (chest) on IR while signing linebacker Jerry Franklin to a 2-year deal, elevating receiver Joe Anderson from the practice squad and waiving offensive lineman Andre Gurode.

Gould, who ranks among the most accurate kickers in league history, strained his left calf in warm-ups before Sunday's loss at Minnesota, and punter Adam Podlesh handled kickoffs in his place. Gould kicked the extra point after both of Chicago's touchdowns and tried on onside kick late in the game.

>>Congress To Grill NFL, Union On Human Growth Hormone

(Undated) -- A Congressional subcommittee will go after the National Football League and the players union today, over the NFL's delay in testing players for human growth hormone, or HGH. The league and the players union agreed more than a year ago to include HGH testing in the collective bargaining agreement, but since then the union has consistently blocked efforts to test players. Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, who starred for the Chicago Bears, will be one of the witnesses testifying during today's hearing.

>>NFL To Make Thigh, Knee Pads Mandatory

(Undated) -- The NFL will reportedly make the use of thigh and knee pads mandatory for the 2013 season in an announcement on Wednesday. FoxSports.com reports team owners will be updated on the matter when they meet in Dallas. The NFL Players Association made a successful push before the 1994 season to have the protective padding become optional for players to wear. In May, owners approved a rule change that would make the pads mandatory. However, the NFLPA argued that such a motion would be a collectivelly-bargained issue. A 2010 study showed that only about 30-percent of NFL players wear thigh and knee pads.