The Bears might have found their punt returner Tuesday when they signed veteran receiver DeAndre Carter to a one-year deal.
Carter averaged 9.7 yards per punt return for the Raiders last year. In 2022, he averaged 11.7 as a member of the Chargers, which ranked second in the NFL. The well-traveled 31-year-old — he’s played for six different teams in six years, including the Bears for four games in 2020 — has averaged 9.8 yards per return over 132 career punt returns. His 1,294 punt return yards are the second most in the NFL over the past six seasons.
The Bears were left without their regular punt returner when Trent Taylor, who averaged 8.2 yards return last season, signed with the 49ers in April.
The Bears tried first-round pick Rome Odunze at punt returner during mandatory minicamp, but he is probably too valuable to return punts regularly. He tried it three times in college, taking one punt 83 yards for a touchdown.
“I practiced it every day,” Odunze said last week. “I didn’t get a ton of reps in actual games. Would’ve loved to get more of those, but I think it’s just another opportunity for me to shine and for me to add value to the team. I feel like I do it at a high level, so continue to grow with that, continue to find the technique of it, especially at this level … If I can contribute in any facet in the return game, I’m all for it.”
The Bears also have veteran Dante Pettis and second-year receiver Tyler Scott as options to return punts.
Carter has returned 118 kickoffs, too, but the Sacramento State alum figures to be behind Velus Jones on the depth chart entering next month’s training camp. Bears rookies will report to Halas Hall on July 16, the NFL announced Tuesday, with veterans arriving three days later.
Related Posts:
- Bears Sign Ex-Raiders Veteran WR, Putting Velus Jones on Bubble Sports The Chicago Bears are adding another veteran wide receiver and return specialist to their offseason roster ahead of next month’s NFL training camp. According to ESPN’s Jordan Schultz, the Bears are signing former Las Vegas Raiders veteran DeAndre Carter to their 90-man roster. The team has not officially announced Carter’s…
- Magic Linked to More Reliable Center Than Injury-Prone Wendell Carter Jr. Sports The Orlando Magic has been pegged as a team that could pursue the New York Knicks’ prized free-agent center Isaiah Hartenstein. “The Orlando Magic is another team to monitor for Hartenstein, according to rival NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype,” Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto reported on June 15. The report came…
- Top young surf talent in town to compete at USA Surfing championships News The competition this week at Lower Trestles is a front-row seat to witness the next generation of the country’s best wave riders at work. The best young surfers in the country are battling it out at the USA Surfing National Championships through Saturday, June 22, an event that draws about…
- Renck: Archie “King” Colgan ditched 9-to-5 job to become an MMA fighter, and now is eyeing title bout News In his first job after college, Archie Colgan sold printers and copiers, but grew tired of being a facsimile of himself. He got along well with his boss, walked into his office and quit to pursue a career as a cage fighter. “I was nervous. That first hour after I…
- Dear Abby: My manager complains that I don’t like him, and I need this job News DEAR ABBY: I am single, never married. A male manager at my job is divorced. I have been here for about a year. After a few weeks at the job, I realized he was single. Related Articles Advice | Dear Abby: She was my bridesmaid but she let me down,…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)