Devin Hester News

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