Top Takeaways from Chicago Bears preseason finale vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Do the Bears have an issue at punt returner?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — DeAndre Carter has returned a lot of punts since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State.

The 31-year-old receiver and return man has returned 132 total punts for 1,294 yards. He also has been credited with seven muffs since 2018, and although it won’t count since it’s preseason, Carter had one Thursday night against the Chiefs.

After the Bears’ defense forced a three-and-out early in the second quarter, Carter lined up for Chicago to field the punt. Carter went back to the 8-yard line, stopped and blocked the closest man that had a chance of making a play on the ball after it went over his head.

Without him knowing, the ball rolled backwards and touched Carter. The Chiefs dove at the football and took over on the Bears’ 9-yard line.

“So I mean we play like the 8-yard line, the ball went over my head,” Carter said after the game. “Most of the time like, I could have done a better job of getting out of there for sure, but I blocked the guy who I thought was going to be the closest to be able to make a play on the ball. The football bounces weird ways, you know what I’m saying. So, yeah, I just need to do a better job of getting out of there or being more aware of how close the ball is to me for sure.”

The special teams takeaway sets up 1st and goal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/azfP9E8MY7

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 23, 2024

On the muffed punt, defensive back Tarvarius Moore was to Carter’s right and looked in his direction as the ball rolled back towards him. Carter was asked if his teammates are supposed to communicate to him in that situation, but he said, “No, just a bad bounce, you know. Tough play.”

What makes it difficult is that Carter has to make a split-second decision to block the play side gunner or just get out of the way, which he said was the main learning point on that play.

In the preseason game against the Bills, Carter was the punt returner on a Bills’ punt that bounced inside the 10 and was touched down at the 3-yard line.

It’s been inconsistent for the veteran return man so far this preseason, and that brings up the question if the Bears feel comfortable with Carter being the guy.

If they don’t, then Dante Pettis would be an obvious candidate, but he was injured in Tuesday’s practice and didn’t play in Thursday’s game.

Greg Stroman Jr. fielded punts after Carter against the Chiefs. Josh Blackwell had two attempts against the Bills, and Rome Odunze has been practicing punt returns since he got to Chicago.

At this point, it’s up in the air, but that decision will be made soon with cut day approaching next Tuesday.

But there were plenty of positive takeaways and notable observations from the Bears’ 34-21 victory over the Chiefs.

What to make of Velus Jones Jr.’s preseason finale

Velus Jones Jr. didn’t get on the field until the Bears’ fourth offensive drive of the game, which occurred with just over 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Bears also won the coin toss and elected to receive, but the kick returners were Tyler Scott and Carter — not Jones, who was fifth in the league in 2023 with his 435 kick return yards. Maybe that’s a sign the Bears have faith in Jones and wanted to give others an opportunity to prove themselves.

Jones was asked in the locker room after the game if he expects to return kicks if he makes the team.

“For sure, yeah, for sure,” Jones said.

Travis Homer, Ian Wheeler and even fullback Khari Blasingame all got handoffs before Jones. In the second half, though, Jones got all of the handoffs, but did so with the third-team offense that featured Austin Reed at quarterback.

He showed off his speed multiples times specifically on toss plays. On the play in the third quarter, after initially going left and breaking into the second level, Jones weaved back inside and scored on a 39-yard touchdown run.

“I mean, when God gives you, you know, speed, it runs in the family,” Jones said. “When he gives you stuff like that, you can use it to your advantage.”

.@VelusJr weaves his way 39 yards for the TD ⚡️

📺: FOX32 pic.twitter.com/stguYQKTGV

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 23, 2024

Jones finished the game with 13 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown. He received all the handoffs in the second half, and even had some opportunities to pass block in the game.

I feel like I did, I did pretty good,” Jones said. “I know there are some looks I wish I could get back, but you’re never going to have a perfect game. I’m still learning, especially at the position.”

Despite cut day being on Tuesday, August 27, Jones isn’t concerned about it.

“That’s in God’s hands,” Jones said. “Only thing I can do is give it my all. That’s never been a concern to me.”

Daniel Hardy continues to impress

It would be tough to find someone who has had a more productive preseason than Daniel Hardy. In four games, the second-year man out of Montana State has made 14 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Despite the productive preseason, Hardy understands there are plenty of ways he can still grow as a player.

“There is always stuff to clean up,” Hardy said. “But you know at the end of the day, thank God for the things I was able to put on film. The production I was able to put out there and really, I just feel like I put a good foot forward, but you know, can always get better, can always improve and never be satisfied.”

Hardy has also shown a motor to finish plays, which is exactly what Bears head coach Matt Eberflus likes to see out of his players.

That motor Hardy plays with can be attributed to being the youngest sibling in his family. He has five older brothers.

“So, just childhood growing up, always trying to keep up with the big dogs and I feel like it comes from that,” Hardy said. “But it’s also, you know, years of coaching I’ve had. A line of fantastic coaches who preach effort and that’s just the one thing you can’t coach. They always harped on me and that was always something I was able to carry with me throughout my entire career.”

Well, that effort and relentlessness to find the ball is paying off for Hardy. Now, the question is, will his training camp and preseason be enough for him to earn a roster spot? His main competition is third-year man Dominique Robinson, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2022.

Hardy has done everything that he could to make it a difficult decision on the Bears’ coaching staff, so it’s out of his hands now.

“Man, just leave that in God’s hands, man,” Hardy said. “Like you said, I did everything I could do, so he could do everything I couldn’t. So, I don’t even think about it. I’m going to enjoy this day off and hopefully looking forward to being a Chicago Bear, but if not, you know, we’ll handle that when it comes.”

Tough night for Larry Borom and Ja’Tyre Carter

On the Bears’ second offensive drive of the game, Larry Borom was injured on a Travis Homer run that went for a 1-yard gain. Prior to the injury, he was in a good position to earn himself a spot on the roster as the swing tackle as long as the Bears felt comfortable paying him $3,199,269 for making the team.

Depending on the severity of his injury, that could easily change things for the veteran tackle. Jake Curhan was healthy and available throughout training camp and also has history with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Borom’s injury could cost him his job.

As for third-year man Ja’Tyre Carter, he was flagged for two penalties against the Chiefs, once for an illegal man downfield that negated a 15-yard completion to Ian Wheeler.

Then he was flagged for holding on a touchdown pass that wouldn’t have counted since Brett Rypien threw the ball past the line of scrimmage.

Carter also played in the second half at left guard with the third-team offense. For someone who is looking to somehow make their way on the 53-man roster, tonight didn’t help.

Reddy Steward shows out

After DeAndre Carter’s turnover that gave Kansas City prime field position at Chicago’s 9-yard line, it looked almost certain the Chiefs would come away with their first points in the game early in the second quarter.

Undrafted free agent Reddy Steward out of Troy had a different idea. Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun attempted to connect with his slot receiver to his left, but Steward jumped the route and intercepted the pass.

“It was on the goal line and I just seen the quarterback eyeing down number two, and I just reacted to it,” Steward said after the game.

Steward tripped on the return and was touched down at the Chicago 11-yard line. Three defensive possessions later, Steward made an even bigger play for the defense.

On second-and-9 from the Kansas City 38, safety Adrian Colbert was sent on a blitz off the left edge. Colbert credited the defensive line after the game for allowing him to have a free rush. Colbert hit Oladokun as he threw and the pass was intercepted by Steward, who returned the ball 48 yards for a touchdown.

“Adrian, AC, got good pressure on the quarterback and he threw it a little short,” Steward said. “Once again he was eyeing down the receiver, and I had told the older guys if I get another one, I wasn’t going to fall this time, so I just took it to the crib on that one.”

When describing how those plays made him feel, Steward said it felt “surreal” and it still didn’t feel real to the 23-year-old rookie after the game.

Tyler Scott deep threat

The Bears didn’t have many options at the receiver position for Thursday night’s game against the Chiefs.

The options included Tyler Scott, Nsimba Webster, Peter LeBlanc, John Jackson III and Carter. Out of that group, Scott easily made the most of all the opportunities he had.

The second-year player ended with six receptions for 99 yards.

“I don’t think you can replicate game reps,” Scott said. “You can’t teach experience being out there, you know the crowd, the game day nerves, the other opponent, you can’t really replicate that. I feel like the more and more you can get opportunities to be out there, see defenses, you know things slow down for you. The more and more I’m out there, the more and more it starts to slow down.”

Last season, Scott was worried where he would be lining up on certain plays and he wouldn’t even be aware of what the defense was doing. Now, that is completely different. Scott knows his assignments, knows who is guarding him and just knows what is happening.

Scott knew from his film preparation that the Chiefs liked to play a lot of press man coverage. On his 37-yard reception down the left sideline, he knew Brett Rypien was going to give him an opportunity on a vertical ball and he just made a play.

This is also the second-straight week that Scott has drawn a pass interference penalty on the defense. Scott lined up in the slot on third-and-7 and got behind the defensive back. Austin Reed tried to hit Scott on a deep ball and the second-year receiver out of Cincinnati did a good job of coming back to the football and drew the pass interference penalty.

All the work Scott has put in through the offseason and training camp is beginning to pay off.

“I talked a little about it, a little about it mentally, but even physically just being able to run and finally get under it,” Scott said. “A nice thrown football. Catch a few passes there. Catch and run. See defenses, see how they’re rotating. … Just seeing what you’re doing on film, what you’re doing off the field convert to actual game day. That’s something that you strive for. You look great in practice, that’s awesome, but ultimately, what can you do when the lights come on? So I feel like that’s important.”