Bears KR Hester has torn cartilage

Sep/18/08 09:46 PM Filed in: Devin Hester
DevinHester
Chicago Bears kick returner Devin Hester is suffering from torn cartilage in his rib area, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

Hester, who suffered a rib injury during the third quarter of Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers when he was forced out of bounds at the end of a punt return, was unsure of his availability for Sunday's home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"I'm feeling a lot better so I'm hoping by the end of the week I'll have no pain or nothing like that," Hester told the newspaper on Thursday.

In 34 regular-season games since joining the Bears in 2006, Hester has returned seven punts for a touchdown and run back four kickoffs for scores.

Hester said he was injured while making a quick move to avoid a tackle. He said he couldn't breathe normally for two days.

"I was told that if you go out there and it's not healed all the way, then you could damage it even more," he said. "I'm just going to get as much treatment as I can, and hopefully ill be ready."

(nationalpost.pa)