Hester Equals Better Offense or Tired Special Teams?

There are many reasons why Chicago Bears fans can’t wait for the season to start. One is seeing star kick-and-punt returner Devin Hester on offense as a receiver. His speed and agility have been proven, but the turning that into receiver gold could be interesting. Last season, Hester led the NFL with five touchdowns off of kick and punt returns. He is also the first player ever to return the Super Bowl’s opening kickoff for a touchdown. He is tied with Bear Nathan Vasher for the longest play at 108 yards.

A question with moving Hester to wide receiver is whether or not it will compromise his ability to run back kicks and punts. While he has done an amazing job on special teams, he has had the advantage of fresh legs. Tiring him out with routes while the Bears are on offense may not be the smartest move. Then again, he is competing for a starting spot with players like Mark Bradley, Mary Booker, Brandon Lloyd and Rashied Davis. If he can’t beat them out, the point may be moot anyway. He may surpass everyone’s expectations and turn out huge numbers on offense while still having great stats on special teams. Here’s hoping the latter turns out to be true.

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