Devin Hester News: Pro Sports Daily

Hester expects to play; Boldin less certain

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November 7

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears won't be without their top wide receiver, and the Arizona Cardinals just might have their No. 2 guy after all Sunday at Soldier Field. Devin Hester returned to practice for the first time this week on Friday with his sprained right ankle and participated in portions of practice. He looked fine running around, and although he's listed as questionable on the injury report, he's expected to start. The Cardinals also got wide receiver Anquan Boldin back on the field Friday in a limited capacity, and he also is questionable. Boldin suffered a high ankle sprain on Oct. 11 and was knocked out of last Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers. He has vowed to play, and the Bears are ..."

Bears' Devin Hester says he's full-go for Sunday

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November 7

Chicago Tribune

"When asked if he would have any limitations coming off a sprained right ankle, Bears receiver Devin Hester responded, "none whatsoever." So that means Hester should have little trouble zipping by the Cardinals' cornerbacks come Sunday, right? "They do bite on double moves," Hester said. "(But) they're really good at breaking on routes. "They play really, really flat-footed a lot. But other than that, there are some areas in there where they can be beat. They showed that on film. And we just have to learn from it and try to do the same thing." The health of Hester and Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin could make for an interesting subplot Sunday. Hester sat out the previous two days before ..."

Devin Hester misses 2nd practice

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November 6

Chicago Tribune

"Another practice passed with Devin Hester standing on the sidelines with an ankle injury, but no one seemed overly concerned about the possibility of the Bears' top receiver missing Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Hester said he is looking forward to practicing Friday. In Hester's absence the Bears coaches were able to give Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu more practice reps, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. No secrets: An interesting dynamic exists whenever Bears coach Lovie Smith faces Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner because Smith was the defensive coordinator on Rams teams Warner quarterbacked for three years. Smith said he considers Warner a friend for life -- but they ..."

Bum ankle slows Hester

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November 5

Daily Southtown

"Devin Hester limped around the practice field Wednesday afternoon at Halas Hall but the wide receiver vowed to be on the field Sunday when the Bears host the Arizona Cardinals, a team that might be without a top receiver itself. Hester suffered a sprained ankle near the end of Sunday's victory over Cleveland, and could be back on the practice field today. "I'm all right,'' Hester said. "I'm going to play.'' Whether Anquan Boldin will be able to go for the Cardinals remains to be seen. He missed practice Wednesday because of a sprained right ankle that has been hobbling him for nearly a month, and was re-aggravated in Arizona's home loss to Carolina. Pocket play The Denver Broncos used ..."

Gimpy Hester still expects to play Sunday vs. Cardinals

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November 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"Wide receiver Devin Hester limped around the practice field Wednesday at Halas Hall, but he vowed to be on the field Sunday, when the Bears host the Arizona Cardinals. Hester suffered a sprained ankle near the end of the victory over the Cleveland Browns, and he could be back on the field today. ''I'm all right,'' Hester said. ''I'm going to play.''"

Devin Hester out of practice with ankle injury

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November 5

Chicago Tribune

"Bears receiver Devin Hester sat out Wednesday but said he expects to return to practice this week after suffering an ankle injury Sunday. Hester said a Browns defender fell on his ankle on a screen pass in the 30-6 victory over the Browns. "Just a little swollen," Hester said. "I'll be ready." Coincidentally, Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, a player the Bears considered trading for, is sidelined by a right ankle sprain but expects to play against the Bears. Scaling back? After the Bears scored just two touchdowns on seven trips to the red zone against the Browns, an upset Ron Turner said the lack of execution could lead to simplifying the offense."

Bears' Hester says he'll be OK for Falcons

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October 8

Chicago Sun-Times

"As if the neck brace he left Soldier Field wearing on Sunday wasn't a big enough giveaway, Devin Hester moved to clear up further confusion about what body part he injured when he made an early departure from the victory over the Detroit Lions. Hester suffered a strained neck when he was crunched by Lions defensive backs Louis Delmas and William James early in the second quarter. He sat out practice Wednesday at Halas Hall but vowed to be back for the Oct. 18 game at Atlanta after the bye week. Meanwhile, wide receiver Johnny Knox was back on the field three days after leaving the game with a shin injury. As far as where the notion came that Hester had a shoulder injury, he said: ''I don't ..."

Devin Hester says neck will be fine for next game

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October 8

Chicago Tribune

"So much for Devin Hester's shoulder injury. The Bears receiver said his neck, not shoulder, was a concern after he went down Sunday against the Lions. Hester suffered a strained muscle in his neck after getting crunched by Lions defenders William James and Louis Delmas. Hester went to the sideline and dropped to his knee in pain. "Anything dealing with your neck, you're pretty much nervous," Hester said. "It's just a little strained muscle in my neck. It's nothing major." Hester, who sat out Wednesday's practice, will be ready to go Oct. 18 when the Bears face the Falcons after the off week. "I'm good," Hester said. "... I'll be ready for this next game.""

Hester, Knox, Peterson KO'd by injury bug

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October 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears' wide receivers passed the test through the first four games in terms of production. Now we'll see if they can pass a health test. Devin Hester was knocked out of the game Sunday early in the second quarter on a two-yard reception when he was hit by Lions defensive backs Louis Delmas and William James. The Bears called it a shoulder injury, but Hester left Soldier Field wearing a neck brace. Johnny Knox was next to go, being sent off in the third quarter with an injured right shin. The duo has combined for four touchdowns and been a reliable vertical threat for an offense that entered the season with nothing but question marks at the position. Neither injury is believed to be ..."

Bears concerned about Devin Hester's shoulder injury

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October 5

Chicago Tribune

"The last thing the Bears needed was another blow to a key player, but Devin Hester's absence from the sideline in the second half with a shoulder injury caused some concern. Hester suffered the injury with 11 minutes, 55 seconds left in the second quarter. After catching a 2-yard pass on second-and-goal from the 4, Hester got crunched by Lions cornerback William James and safety Louis Delmas. He did not return. "Obviously, (we're) concerned," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "It's bad enough for him to leave the game. And I don't know exactly what it is, but it sounds like he's going to be OK." The NFL Network reported Hester had a stiff neck and would be fine for the Bears' next ..."

Glimpse of the 'old' Hester

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September 1

Chicago Sun-Times

"Before the Bears had a 98-yard touchdown drive Sunday at Denver, they had a four-yard touchdown drive, a reminder of what Devin Hester means to the special teams. Hester never got on track as a return man last season. He eventually ceded his responsibilities on kickoffs to Danieal Manning and looked more like Leon Johnson on punts, averaging 6.2 yards per return, almost nine yards fewer than the year before. But after a quick dash right and a turn upfield on a 54-yard return against the Broncos, Hester appeared to be back. It was the quick, decisive kind of move he made as a rookie in 2006, when he had three touchdowns, and again the next year, when he ran back four punts for touchdowns. ..."

Bears' Cutler confident he'll connect with Hester

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August 27

Chicago Sun-Times

"Devin Hester learned the first lesson of working with Jay Cutler: Don't stop running. On Saturday against the New York Giants, Hester blamed his failure to catch a potential 92-yard touchdown pass on coming back for the ball, considering how far he had slipped behind the defense. Instead, the nearly 60-yard pass from Cutler thrown on the run fell to the ground. It was a meaningless missed opportunity in a preseason game, but the kind of misread that could cost the Bears when it counts. ''I thought I was too far out,'' Hester said. ''Even the defenders that were guarding me slowed down and started going back toward the line, and Jay threw it over all our heads. Now I know. Just keep going. ..."

Hester learns not to underestimate Jay Cutler's arm

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August 27

Chicago Tribune

"While Jay Cutler took responsibility for putting him in a bad position, Devin Hester shouldered blame for the two missing on a first-quarter deep ball in Saturday night's 17-3 exhibition victory over the Giants. Cutler launched a missile on the run that sailed over Hester's head. Hester, who admitted not being used to such arm strength, was asked what he learned from the play. "Keep running just as fast as you can ... no matter what," he said. "If he gets out of the pocket, don't do any scrambling drill. Just keep going. I thought I was too far out. Even the defender guarding me slowed and started going back toward Jay. He threw it over all our heads. Now I know ... don't stop." Happy ..."

BEARS IN BRIEF: Hester satisfied with Cutler's spin

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August 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"Jay Cutler's comments regarding his first interception as a Bear didn't sit well with Devin Hester until he went to the quarterback to find out what was going on. Cutler, throwing off his back foot in the face of a collapsing pocket Saturday at Buffalo, was easily intercepted by Leodis McKelvin when his pass to Hester was underthrown. 'Devin is more of a go-get-it guy. He is not really a back-shoulder or jump-up-and-get-it [guy],'' Cutler said. ''You learn from it. We made some mistakes.'' ''I was [offended] when I read it,'' Hester said, ''but then he said he didn't say it. You can't go with what the papers say. You've got to go to the source and see what really happened, and he told me ..."

Bears' Devin Hester fine with Jay Cutler's explanation about postgame remarks

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August 18

Chicago Tribune

"Although more controversy was the last thing Devin Hester wanted after Saturday's game, the Bears wide receiver was honest about his feelings regarding Jay Cutler's postgame statements. After Bills defensive back Leodis McKelvin picked off a deep ball Cutler probably shouldn't have launched while on his back foot -- a ball intended for Hester -- Cutler addressed the matter after the game by saying: "Devin is more of a go-get-it guy. He's not really a back-shoulder, jump-up-and-get-it [guy], and ... you learn from it. You make some mistakes. It's a preseason game." Hester, who admitted he could have made a better play on the ball, was asked Monday if he was offended by the statement. "I ..."

Devin Hester comes to defense of Jay Cutler

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June 26

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester says he has heard enough. He is tired of hearing the criticism that new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is not a mature, capable leader. "If you haven't been around a person like Cutler, how could you say something like that?" Hester said before appearing in a photo shoot Monday evening at Soldier Field for an Under Armour commercial. In recent weeks, Super Bowl-winning coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Ditka have been among those who have expressed reservations about Cutler's maturity level. "Can't judge a book by its cover," Hester said. "If you haven't sat down and talked to him, how could you say something like that? He's calm in the huddle. He makes us laugh and he jokes around ..."

Devin Hester comes to defense of Jay Cutler

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June 24

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester says he has heard enough. He is tired of hearing the criticism that new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is not a mature, capable leader. "If you haven't been around a person like Cutler, how could you say something like that?" Hester said before appearing in a photo shoot Monday evening at Soldier Field for an Under Armour commercial. In recent weeks, Super Bowl-winning coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Ditka have been among those who have expressed reservations about Cutler's maturity level. "Can't judge a book by its cover," Hester said. "If you haven't sat down and talked to him, how could you say something like that? He's calm in the huddle. He makes us laugh and he jokes around ..."

Jay Cutler to Devin Hester: Already in sync

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June 4

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"One play into Wednesday's full-team Bears scrimmage session confirmed the most interesting bit of progress at Halas Hall still three months before the 2009 season-opener. Jay Cutler glided back into a seven-step drop, set his feet in a pocket protected by left tackle Orlando Pace, and peered downfield where wide receiver Devin Hester had gotten a step on his defender. For aesthetic purposes, ignore for a moment that cornerback Zack Bowman was limited in how physical he could get with Hester in this non-contact drill. But that is beside the point. The point that will be driven home whenever the Bears offense takes the field from now until September came in the way Cutler's arching spiral ..."

Bears coach Lovie Smith still wants Devin Hester returning punts

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May 4

Chicago Tribune

"It seems reasonable for Devin Hester to get less work on special teams as he continues to evolve into a No. 1 receiver. Of the 32 receivers with 60-plus catches last season, only four -- Wes Welker (Patriots), Steve Breaston (Cardinals), Eddie Royal (Broncos) and DeSean Jackson (Eagles) -- doubled as primary punt returners. But even with a couple of capable rookies at the Bears' disposal, coach Lovie Smith has no plans to give Hester a break from punt-return duties. "No way," he said. "Devin has the chance to score every time. If one of those [rookies] is a better returner than Devin, then we will put them back there. "Devin can be a full-time receiver and handle one other return." ..."

Devin Hester eager for Jay Cutler passes

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April 4

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester all but salivated as he envisioned fielding deep balls from new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. But as he continues to evolve as a receiver, Hester would welcome help at the position. He even has someone in mind. " Torry Holt," Hester said. "In my opinion, he still has two good years left in him. "From going to the Pro Bowl, I picked his brain. We talked about route running. He seems to have a lot of knowledge. I could pick his brain some more for a few years, and that would really help us out." Problem is, Holt, 32, reportedly had a good visit in Tennessee and could end up signing with the Titans. The former Rams star also visited Jacksonville. But Holt has a history with ..."

Bears' Hester excited about upcoming commercial shoot

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March 24

Chicago Tribune

"Plans for Devin Hester to participate in a promotional air stunt Thursday had been, well ... up in the air. As part of his new partnership with Red Bull energy drink, the Bears wide receiver/kick returner originally agreed to ride in an "acrobatic" helicopter that can perform flips. Then came word Monday morning that tornadoes along the East Coast would prevent the Red Bull stunt helicopter from leaving its base in Florida. The decision was made Monday night to have Hester ride in an Albatross aircraft, which is capable of landing on lakes, rivers, oceans or runways. The Albatross will make its way from Tennessee to Palwaukee Airport near Waukegan for Thursday's event. A Bears official ..."

Chicago Bears' Devin Hester must show progress quickly

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March 21

Chicago Tribune

columnist Dan Pompei

"Watching Devin Hester run past defenders in minicamp this week made it easy to forget that his move to full-time wide receiver last season clearly was a failure if viewed within the context of a one-year vacuum. Unless, that is, your idea of success if finishing 49th in the NFL in receiving yards and not having a single 100-yard receiving game. The Bears clearly are counting on Hester progressing and becoming better this season. That is not an unreasonable expectation, given his inexperience and ability. But how much better will he be? The thinking behind putting Hester at wide receiver full time was to get the ball in his hands more often. That barely happened. He had 120 touches in 2008, ..."

Still a fan favorite, Hester only Bear ahead in voting

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December 12

Chicago Sun-Times

"The ''vote early and often'' motto that applies to city politics didn't help the Bears in Pro Bowl balloting. Returner Devin Hester was the only player to lead his position in fan voting that closed this week. The fan vote counts one-third in the process, with players and coaches each getting one-third of the say. Six-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was second at inside linebacker behind Washington's London Fletcher. The Redskins assembled the kind of voting machine one would expect in Chicago as they won balloting at nine of 19 positions. Urlacher led the fan vote last season but didn't finish in the top five at his position and missed the Pro Bowl for the first time when ..."

Hester struggles, Manning emerges

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December 9

Chicago Tribune

"Lost in the hand-wringing over the Devin Hester conundrum has been the re-emergence of Danieal Manning, not only as a quality defensive back but as a better kickoff return man than Hester. Manning ranks eighth in the NFL with a 28-yard average on 21 kickoff returns and no returner with more than 20 returns has a higher percentage of them over 40 yards—Manning has four (one every 5.25 returns). Whenever Hester wants to get serious about becoming a dangerous return man again, he can put in the videotape of Manning zipping straight upfield like a guy frantically trying to catch a missed bus. As for Manning on defense, this is about the time the Bears' coaching staff typically has forced him ..."

Hester a ridiculously fascinating story

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December 8

Chicago Sun-Times

"When Kyle Orton saw Devin Hester with just one defender lined up against him, and the rest of the defense crowding the line, he changed the play call, took the ball and fired to Hester for 30 yards. It was a perfect combination, where quarterback, receiver, and even the ball all are together as one. But what page were they on, exactly? What wavelength? Was that play in the fourth quarter Sunday the outcome of a budding telepathy, the start of one of those special QB-receiver relationships? I don’t think so. It was a simple fade that worked, because the only time Hester is a great receiver is when the playbook in his head says one thing: Run like hell. Well, that worked for big plays twice, ..."

Devin Hester: "It's tough on me"

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November 20

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester's inability to excel in the return game this season appears to have taken a toll on the Bear. "It's tough on me. I don't even like going outside now," Hester said Wednesday. "I just want to find that edge and overcome it." Hester was asked if he has lost his confidence. Danieal Manning replaced him on kickoffs during the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Packers. "I haven't lost any confidence," Hester said. "I'm the type when I get my opportunity, I'm going to make the most of it." Hester entered the season with 12 career returns for touchdowns, including a 108-yard return of a missed field goal and kickoff returns of 96 and 94 yards at St. Louis two seasons ago. His ..."

Bears wait for Hester's launch

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November 9

Tennessean

"Bears Coach Lovie Smith said he thinks it's just a matter of time before his electrifying return man breaks free for a touchdown. Then, he said, the floodgates might open. The Titans want to make sure that time isn't today when they square off against Devin Hester and the Bears at Soldier Field. "He is the most dangerous return man in the NFL, bar none,'' said Titans linebacker Ryan Fowler, who plays on special teams. "A lot of guys are really fast. A lot of guys have good moves, and a lot of guys are strong. But he has some X-factor. It's like a sixth sense. He knows how to make things happen.'' So far this season, however, teams have figured out a way to slow Hester down. The Bears ..."

Devin Hester not delivering on returns

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November 5

Chicago Tribune

columnist Rick Morrissey

"As long as a search party already is looking for Brian Urlacher, would it be too much to ask that it keep an eye out for Devin Hester? Remember the off-season howls from fans and media that Hester deserved a big, fat contract extension because it was sooooooo obvious he should be paid like a No. 1 receiver? Those howls were based on the idea that his wizardry as a kick returner was transferable to the wide receiver position. Say this about the Bears: They might not always be right about personnel decisions, but they were right to sign Hester to a deal that was so heavy on incentives he needed a forklift to take it home. And for those of you who thought it was an outrage that this ..."

Hester not quite as electric for Bears this year

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November 3

Chicago Tribune

"This was the game in which many Bear watchers expected Devin Hester to make a significant impact on the outcome. They were right, but not nearly the way many envisioned Hester affecting the Bears' 27-23 victory over the Lions. Hester fumbled a kickoff return with 13 minutes 21 seconds left in the second quarter that Lions linebacker Alex Lewis forced and recovered. One play later Detroit scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dan Orlovsky to Calvin Johnson to give the Lions a 13-10 lead. Buoyed by the momentum swing Hester's turnover created, Detroit scored all 23 of their points in the second quarter — an avalanche that started with the fumble. "It was a good play by him," Hester said. ..."

Hester admits he's anxious for many happier returns

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October 30

Chicago Sun-Times

"The crazy expectations created by Devin Hester's record-setting first two seasons have caught up with the Bears' return man as much as opposing defenders have. Hester, in a career-high seven-game slump without a return score, admitted Wednesday he has been pressing to spring a big one. Even though Hester is averaging a pedestrian 22.1 yards per kickoff return and the Bears rank 19th in that category, they are fourth in the league with an average starting field position of nearly the 30 after kickoffs. ''I've put all the pressure on myself and say that it is my fault that the return game is not the way it was,'' Hester said. ''At the end of the day, I'm the one with the ball in my hands, ..."

'Hester takes the snap ...'

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October 22

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Mike Mulligan

"In the win-at-all-costs world of professional football, conformity and uniformity tend to crush the will of the individual. The weekly grind of a season offers little time for the simple joys of life. Rarely does the thrill of creativity seize a team. Which brings us to the bye week and the chance to reflect and tinker and maybe even have a little bit of fun. Things are going so well for the Bears -- well, for their offense, anyway -- that it might be a good time to dust off the old playbook and unleash some fun. Will the Bears work on the Wildcat offense during their bye week? ''We have played around with some of it,'' offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. ''We actually did some things ..."

No big returns, but Hester still effective

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October 20

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Chicago return specialist Devin Hester mustered just 36 yards on two kickoffs. But he certainly got into the Vikings' collective head. The Bears got tremendous field position as Longwell tried to direct high kickoffs toward fullback Jason McKie. "We didn't want him to be a factor," Vikings coach Brad Childress said of Hester. "But by the same token, you have to assess as you're going along where the game is and if they're taking it 40, 55 yards, or 60 yards, and it's too short a field, you have to adjust as you go. "We made a decision — I made a decision — not to kick the ball to him," Childress said. On the Vikings' lone punt, with Hester waiting for the ball, Chris Kluwe took his eye off ..."

Containing Hester will be key for Vikings

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October 15

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Here's a surprise this season: Chicago Pro Bowl specialist Devin Hester's statistics returning kicks and punts are mediocre. He's averaging 22.6 yards per kick return and 5.4 yards on punt returns. He has no touchdowns on special teams. Those subpar numbers don't mean anything to the Vikings, who respect Hester for what he is: one of the most dangerous players in the NFL, as he has shown in the past with two return touchdowns against Minnesota on his resume. The Vikings have had trouble with their special-teams coverage units this season, so keeping Hester in control will be one of their keys to victory Sunday at Soldier Field. "He's real explosive," said Vikings safety Eric Frampton, a ..."

Hester steps up, Lloyd steps out

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September 29

Chicago Tribune

"As one offensive weapon returned for the Bears, another went down with an injury. Devin Hester, who missed the Tampa Bay game with torn cartilage in his ribs, returned to his regular duties Sunday night against the Eagles. He returned kicks and punts, scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception and even had an end-around run in the fourth quarter. That was the good news for the Bears. The bad was the loss of receiver Brandon Lloyd, who left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn't return. His status is unclear. Lloyd led the team in receiving yards coming into the game. He caught two passes for 33 yards before exiting. While Hester brought back the excitement factor for ..."

Hester likely a game-time decision

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September 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"While the Philadelphia Eagles' top weapons, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, remained sidelined Thursday, the Bears got their most explosive player back. Devin Hester was on the field for the first time since tearing rib cartilage Sept. 14 at Carolina. Hester was involved in a limited part of practice, and his return is a good sign. The Bears are seemingly pointing to Sunday's game with the Eagles as his return date, but the nature of the injury makes it a likely game-time decision. ''Still a little sore,'' Hester said. ''But [I] feel pretty good, and if I feel good before game time, hopefully I can play. I'm pushing for it.'' He didn't wear protective gear to cover his ribs, but that ..."

Hester pushing hard to get back on field

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September 26

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester doesn't appear to be 100 percent, but the Pro Bowl return specialist was well enough to return to Bears practice in a limited role Thursday. It was Hester's first action since he tore cartilage in his lower left rib area during the Week 2 loss at Carolina. His status for Sunday night's game against Philadelphia remains unclear. "I'm pushing for it," Hester said. "I'm still sore. I'm going to get some more treatment. I'mhoping I'll be ready." Hester didn't play in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to Tampa Bay. The Bears could use his explosiveness against the Eagles, who average 30 points per game. But the question is: How explosive will he be coming off the injury? The medical ..."

Devin Hester out for today's Bears game

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September 21

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester is officially out of today's game against Tampa Bay. The Bears have opted to rest him and allow him to heal from a cartilage tear in his ribs. It looks like Nathan Vasher will return punts in Hester's place. Rookie Earl Bennett is inactive despite fielding punts at practice this week."

Hester questionable, but ribs don't seem ready for Bears-Buccaneers

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September 21

Chicago Tribune

"The official injury report lists Devin Hester as "questionable" for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, but there is no question Hester isn't healed completely from torn cartilage in his ribs. That being said, the chance of seeing Hester in the home opener against the Buccaneers appears slim. But coach Lovie Smith continues to leave the option open. "Whether he's ready to go Sunday, that will go right up until [kickoff]," Smith said Friday. Smith was asked if allowing Hester to rest could be more beneficial. The Pro Bowl kick returner hasn't practiced all week. "There are risks every time you come out on the field," Smith said. "We won't put anyone that isn't healthy out on the field. "If ..."

Hester has torn cartilage in rib cage

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September 19

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears added another punt returner to their bullpen Thursday when wide receiver Rashied Davis took reps with the JUGS machine. Davis is the third option now that it appears less likely Devin Hester will play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he revealed he has torn cartilage in his rib cage, an injury that could become worse if he plays before it's healed. Hester missed his second consecutive day of practice. Joining Davis as options for special-teams coordinator Dave Toub are cornerback Nathan Vasher and rookie receiver Earl Bennett, who was inactive the first two weeks. ''I'm pushing [to play],'' Hester said. ''I'm feeling a lot better, so I'm hoping by the end of the week ..."

Devin Hester's status: Painfully unclear

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September 19

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester couldn't breathe correctly let alone get a good night's sleep. It took the Bears' Pro Bowl return specialist a couple of days to learn to cope with torn cartilage in his lower left ribs, an injury he suffered in Sunday's 20-17 loss at Carolina. Hester tried to sound optimistic Thursday as he talked about the injury for the first time. "I'm feeling a lot better so I'm hoping by the end of the week there will be no pain or nothing like that," he said before practice during an open locker-room session. After practice Hester backtracked somewhat, saying his injury was just a bruise. It is unlikely the Bears wanted the specifics of the injury revealed, which might explain why coach ..."

Play it smart, Bears: Sit Hester

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September 19

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"After concluding there will be four quarterbacks in uniform Sunday at Soldier Field who could start for the Vikings, Chiefs and maybe even the Ravens if any of those teams get more desperate, here are 10 other things I know two days before the Bears and Buccaneers kick off. 1. I know if a good chance exists that Devin Hester will aggravate his mysterious rib injury playing Sunday — which he acknowledged— then he should watch the game in sweats. The Bears cannot risk losing Hester for a prolonged period, for reasons that are psychological as much as for the special teams. Besides, if Hester does play he likely will be tentative—the worst thing a returner can be. A cautious Hester isn't ..."

Hester feeling better, pushing to play vs. Bucs

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September 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"If Devin Hester makes the same kind of improvement between now and Sunday that he has since suffering torn cartilage in his ribs at Carolina, maybe he will be able to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The wide receiver and record-setting return man is expected to be sidelined for the second consecutive day when the Bears practice this afternoon at Halas Hall, but Hester said his goal is still to suit up for the home opener. ``I am pushing for it,’’ he said. ``I’m feeling a lot better so I am hoping by the end of the week I will have no pain or anything like that.’’ Hester grabbed the left side of his ribs when he ran out of bounds on a kickoff return during the third quarter of the ..."

Hester's status a mystery; Bears weigh options

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September 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"Devin Hester's rib-cage injury remained a mystery Wednesday, when he was held out of practice and rookie Earl Bennett was prepped for a possible role as the punt returner Sunday against Tampa Bay. Hester, the Bears' record-setting return man who has not missed a game in his career, has said he feels fine and expects to play, but the team is not going to place its most valuable offensive weapon in jeopardy for the rest of the season by rushing him onto the field. Since 2006, no Bear has scored more touchdowns than Hester, who did an end-around through Halas Hall to avoid reporters after practice. His injury is believed to be to muscle or cartilage and will heal only with time. It's possible ..."

Hester expects to play vs. Bucs

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September 17

Chicago Sun-Times

"The first injury report of the week is not due until 3 p.m., and the best guess is that Devin Hester will appear on it in some form with the fluke rib injury he suffered Sunday at Carolina. But the receiver/returner has a good chance of playing this week against Tampa Bay. He has said that he is feeling fine and expects to play. Hester had an MRI Tuesday on the area to determine what was wrong and sources said Monday morning that he was not ailing from broken or bruised ribs. Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden was asked what his plan was with Hester, if he would kick to Hester: "That probably wouldn't be very smart on our part," Gruden said. "I've kind of seen over the years, this guy is very ..."

Devin returns the gesture

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September 17

Chicago Sun-Times

"Devin Hester can sometimes seem more force of nature than mere mortal. Maybe that's why it was so disturbing to see him carted off the field at Carolina with a rib injury. Hester could've walked off the field, but he was in such discomfort, it didn't make sense to force the issue. Hester's status for Sunday's home opener at Soldier Field is uncertain, but the rib injury isn't expected to keep him out for an extended period. And that's a good thing for a number of reasons, including Hester's private competition with college teammate Roscoe Parrish of the Bills. ''We have a friendly competition every year,'' Hester said. ''It's our edge -- we're competing against each other and making ..."

Lovie mum on status of Hester

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September 16

Chicago Sun-Times

"Not only did the Bears have their loss to the Carolina Panthers to deal with Monday, there was the fallout from the game that will be an issue for some time to come. Coach Lovie Smith would not shed any further light on Devin Hester's rib injury and he is going to have an MRI exam done to see what is wrong. But a source close to Hester was confident nothing is broken, and a teammate said he was doing much better a day after being taken to the locker room at Bank of America Stadium on a cart before his team imploded in squandering a 14-point lead in a 20-17 loss. ''We did a lot of good things but in the end we didn't do enough to win,'' Smith said. ''When you make mistakes like that, it ..."

Hester's status uncertain for Bears

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September 16

Chicago Tribune

"Devin Hester's status for Sunday's home opener against Tampa Bay remains unclear, but one source said the Bears' kick returner should be recovered from the rib injury he suffered in Sunday's game at Carolina. Hester was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, but the team wanted to wait 24 to 48 hours to allow some internal bleeding to subside. Indications are Hester suffered a non-contact injury that forced him from Sunday's game with 5 minutes 23 seconds left in the third quarter. After fielding a kickoff, Hester sprinted to the left sideline and was forced out of bounds — practically untouched — by linebacker Dan Connor. Hester took a hard, extended step to avoid contact, then grabbed ..."

Bruised ribs stop Hester

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September 15

Chicago Tribune

"With trainer Tim Bream by his side, Devin Hester slowly walked through the Bears' locker room trying not to reveal his pain. Hester left Sunday's game in the third quarter with bruised ribs. Panthers linebacker Dan Connor pushed Hester out of bounds during a kick return, and Hester immediately grabbed his side. He was then carted off. He is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday. Before exiting, Hester was rather quiet, catching one pass for 6 yards, returning three kickoffs for 65 yards and returning two punts for 9 yards. If he is out any amount of time, it could hurt the offense and the return game. "Yeah, it would hurt, but we feel like we have a deep receiving corps," quarterback Kyle ..."

Hester sidelined with rib injury

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September 15

Chicago Sun-Times

"More lingering than the disappointment of Sunday's disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers may be the loss of Devin Hester. The Bears' leader in touchdowns over the last two seasons left the field in the third quarter holding his left side with what was described as a rib injury. He was moving gingerly in the locker room afterward and the team shielded him from media without making any further announcement about what medical exams might have revealed. ''Of course he couldn't finish the football game, so that's cause for concern,'' said coach Lovie Smith, who could not specify if Hester was injured on the kickoff return that ended with a tackle by rookie Dan Connor, or earlier. ''That's ..."

Lloyd hopes he can use his leg to slow down Bears returner Hester

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September 11

Gaston Gazette

"The Carolina Panthers are counting on a big game from kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd on Sunday when they face returner extraordinaire Devin Hester and the Chicago Bears. "He's impressive," Lloyd said of Hester, the league's most dynamic return man. "We've got our work cut out on special teams. I think Jason (Baker), John (Kasay) and myself we'll do a good job of hopefully keeping him at bay." In the season opener against San Diego, four of Lloyd's six kickoffs went for touchbacks, including an inadvertent squib kick (he admits to mis-hitting it) that rolled all the way to the end zone. Lloyd said his goal this week is to put as many kickoffs out of the end zone as possible. "As far as the ..."