Aug. 21, 2008

Updated at 2:30 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 22

Daily team observers all agree that the Bears would be making an obviously huge mistake if they significantly reduced Devin Hester’s roles as a punt and kickoff returner moving forward. But even though there isn’t a return specialist in the league anywhere near as special as Hester, who has set league records for return touchdowns the last two seasons, it stands to reason that his return role will be somewhat reduced in proportion to his playing time as a wide receiver. “Game situations will be the No. 1 factor in dictating how much Hester is used on kicks,” a team insider told PFW. “But if he’s on the field all the time as a pass catcher, which still remains to be seen, obviously other guys will have to get involved.” The way we hear it, the “other guys” most likely to fill the return bill in Hester’s absence are third-year man Danieal Manning, fourth-year player Rashied Davis and rookie Earl Bennett, who had some problems fielding kicks in training camp but came up big in the Bears’ second preseason game with an impressive 75-yard punt return for a TD. “Danieal Manning could be in the mix for more kick returns,” the insider said, “since it looks like his playing time at safety could be on the decline.” In fact, Manning was very impressive in that role in a Thursday-night loss to the 49ers, returning a pair of kickoffs for 75 and 60 yards.