Hester flashes old Pro Bowl form in win over Broncos

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Former Broncos star Jay Cutler wasn’t the only Bears player to make a memorable return in Sunday night’s 27-17 preseason win in Denver.

Devin Hester looked like Devin Hester again, bringing back a punt 54 yards to the Denver 4 to set up the Bears’ first touchdown. Resembling the player who was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two NFL seasons, Hester dashed across the field, burst through a seam and raced down the sideline.

Hester set an NFL record with five punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns as a rookie in 2006, and then eclipsed the mark with six in 2007. But last season he failed to get into the end zone on special teams.

“It felt good,” Hester said Sunday night. “I knew I was capable of doing it; I just haven’t been showing it. This year is going to be a new year for me. I’m going to take advantage of what I missed out on last year.”

Fielding punts for the first time in the preseason, Hester’s long return came after two misadventures. He failed to race up to catch a high short punt that bounced 28 yards in Denver’s favor and he later caught a punt while backpedaling at his own 5-yard line.



(chicagobears.com)