Leading up the start of training camp at Halas Hall, the Chicago Bears are officially on break as far as on the field work goes, but that doesn't mean everyone is.
The Bears front office has already been active over the last week and has been looking to bring more outside help to the roster before training camp begins.
The first signing was over the weekend in tight end Marcedes Lewis, who re-signed on another one-year deal. On Thursday, the Bears made another addition to the roster, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, agreeing to a deal with wide receiver DeAndre Carter. The Bears have one remaining spot available on the 90-man roster.
The signing of Carter adds even more intrigue to the roster during training camp than re-signing Lewis. The Bears wide receiver depth already looks crowed enough with multiple players fighting for a potential spot on the 53-man roster.
The Bears already have four confirmed players who will be a lock to make the team in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Tyler Scott. Before this signing, Velus Jones Jr. looked like a lock as well, but now maybe not.
During his career in the NFL, Carter has made a name for himself as a special teams ace and return man, more than what he's accomplished as a wide receiver on offense. The same can be said for Jones, who now has some added competition in practice.
Carter has returned over 100 punts and over 100 kickoffs during his six year career. Last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Carter had 24 punt returns, 11 kickoff returns, and had only four receptions to put it in context.
Carter will also be returning to Chicago, where he played for four games during the 2020 season. With the Bears, Carter returned four punts for 30 yards.
Throughout this entire offseason, Jones seemed like the likely candidate to be named the kick returner under the new league rules, which comes with a higher responsibility. Under the new rules, teams are expecting a massive increase in the number of kick off return opportunities, so even if Jones wins the job out-right, it never hurts to have a backup option.
Given his abilities as a returner on punts and kickoffs, Carter offers some intriguing value worth keeping on the roster, but that's the same thing that was said when the team brought back Dante Pettis earlier this offseason.
Carter will at the very least give the Bears a better look at what they truly have on the roster to determine who to keep on the 53-man roster and who to release following training camp. His skillset as a punt returner is what really stands out considering the Bears used Odunze, their first-round pick, in the role during minicamp.
“You know, I had my fair share of punt returns in college. I practiced it every day. I didn’t get a ton of reps in actual game. Would’ve loved to get more of those, but I think it’s just another opportunity for me to shine and for me to add value to the team," Odunze told the media on Wednesday. "I feel like I do it at a high level, so continue to grow with that, continue to find the technique of it... If I can contribute in any facet in the return game, I’m all for it.”
Ideally you don't want a main offensive playmaker contributing at all on special teams, even if he can do it at a high level. While Odunze will still be an option for the role, Carter's specialty could be a better use for the role a sixth wide receiver on the roster. If he can beat out the other players in the room.
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