Devin Hester’s eyes got a little wider when asked about the possibility of returning a punt for a touchdown Sunday night at Minnesota.
“Sunday night, that would be a great time to hit one,” Hester said. “Looking forward to it.”
Across the locker room, Danieal Manning couldn’t help but smile as he considered how close he was to returning a kickoff for a score last week.
This would be a good time for the Bears to break out of their return slump. The last score was Hester’s 64-yard punt return against New Orleans last December — 81 combined returns ago.
The Vikings aren’t exactly stout on special teams. The Bears special-teams units scored twice in the Oct. 19 meeting, with Garrett Wolfe returning Craig Steltz’s blocked punt and Zackary Bowman recovering a muffed punt in the end zone. Not to mention the past success Hester has had against the Vikings, with two punt returns for touchdowns.
“You think about Devin, and he has exploited them a lot on both punts and kickoffs,” Manning said. “I think I can get in and probably do the same.
“It’s nothing that I see on film. It’s what our guys make for me: I’m just running to the lanes.”
Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub promised some tweaks in the return game, and those adjustments started last week. Manning officially took over for Hester on kick returns and will start Sunday night’s game the same way.
But don’t be surprised if a new wrinkle comes into play.
Plus, instead of using a three-man wedge on kickoffs, the Bears have turned to a four-man alignment of Israel Idonije, Kellen Davis, Jason McKie and newcomer Anthony Adams. That combination helped spring Manning last Sunday for a 50-yard return on the opening kickoff against the Rams.
“From Day 1, we’ve had plenty of returns that have been one guy away from being to the house,” Idonije said. “That’s a part of the game. Returning kicks for touchdowns is harder than people think. But it’s going to happen.”
A quad injury limited McKie in practice Friday, so Idonije, Davis, Adams and lineman Dan Buenning spent extra time afterward working on setting the wedge.
Toub sees his unit getting closer and closer to a game-changing play, particularly after studying Manning’s long return from last week.
“Just little things,” Toub said. “If it means climbing a little longer, just staying on your guy a little bit longer, getting the kicker or the one block at the last minute to spring him, that’s what we’re trying to work on right now.”
Extra points: McKie is questionable for Sunday’s game along with receiver Marty Booker and tight end Desmond Clark, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. All three were limited in Friday’s practice. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee), safety Mike Brown (calf) and linebacker Jamar Williams (groin) are probable. Cornerback Nathan Vasher (hand) was ruled out earlier this week.
For the Vikings, starting right tackle Artis Hicks is questionable with an elbow injury. … Matt Forte was named the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week for his 139-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Rams. … Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips dropped in at the Walter Payton Center after Friday’s practice. … Playoff invoices have been sent to season ticket-holders. The deadline for playoff ticket payments is Dec. 8. The Bears could host the NFC wild-card game Jan. 3 or 4.
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vxmcclure@tribune.com
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