Chicago Bears Just Teased Notable Change At Punt Returner
The Chicago Bears promised changes would be explored to their lineup after losing their third game in a row on Thursday night last week. That is to be expected. All three games were winnable if not for some brutal mistakes by certain players in critical moments. Nobody is a better poster boy for that than Velus Jones. The embattled rookie receiver cost the Bears late against the Giants with a muffed punt. Then he did it again two weeks later against Washington.
It shouldn’t be a surprise the team is considering alternatives. Special Teams coordinator Richard Hightower continued to express confidence in Jones despite the setbacks. However, he also admitted a competition was held this week to find a replacement on punt returns. While he refused to reveal who the choice was, the coach did give reporters the lineup of players they were looking at. It included one very notable name.
The Chicago Bears need somebody comfortable back there.
Eddie Jackson is once again among the best safeties in the NFL. He’s been tremendous this season. That makes it easy to forget he was a lethal punt returner at Alabama. He only returned 11 in his entire college career, but they went for 253 yards and two touchdowns. The guy was so dangerous with the ball in his hands. He has also campaigned for a shot at this job since he was a rookie in 2017. That stance hasn’t changed.
Would Eddie Jackson want to return kicks and punts for the #Bears this week?
Jackson replied, “MOST DEFINITELY!”
Jackson is part of group that is competing for the gig this week.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 21, 2022
Josh Blackwell returned 25 punts during his career at Duke, averaging 9.2 yards per return. Dante Pettis, though, is by far the most experienced. He returned a whopping 90 punts at Washington for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns. It is puzzling why he hasn’t gotten more opportunities to do that since getting to the NFL.
Jackson would be the most exciting choice. He’s already proven how good he is whenever he touches the ball. The problem is that the Chicago Bears may not want to risk him getting injured on return duties when he’s vital to the defense. It is more likely they’ll take their chances on Pettis or Blackwell.