Over the last week, the Chicago Bears appeared to be focusing on adding a speed wide receiver, hosting free-agent wide receivers Mecole Hardman and Rondale Moore.
After signing former Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus to a one-year contract, the Bears appeared to be looking for competition for Tyler Scott. With Zaccheaus likely functioning as the Bears’ slot wide receiver, the team was seeking for a speedy option for their fourth wide receiver. When the Bears selected Scott in the 2023 NFL Draft, they expected to get a profile like this.
Chicago Bears locate a new return specialist.
The Bears appear to have found Scott’s replacement, as they signed Devin Duvernay to a one-year deal. Durvernay has earned his place in the NFL as a return specialist. Duvernay was selected to the Pro Bowl as a Baltimore Ravens player in 2021 and 2022, and he was named All-Pro as a returner in 2021.
While carving out a Pro Bowl career as a return specialist, Duvernay has unable to find much success on offense during his time with the Ravens and Jaguars. The Ravens’ third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Duvernay’s finest offensive season came in 2022, when he totaled 407 receiving yards on 37 receptions.
. Duvernay also added 84 rushing yards for the Ravens in 2022.
Duvernay spent the 2024 season with the Jaguars but contributed only 79 receiving yards on 11 receptions.
Given his pace, it will be interesting to see how Ben Johnson can incorporate Duvernay into his offense. While Jameson Williams represents the pinnacle of what a speed wide receiver can do in Johnson’s playbook, Duvernay has a different profile than what the Bears currently have on the roster. While Duvernay’s offensive role with the Bears has yet to be defined, his arrival might end the team’s revolving door for a return specialist in recent seasons.
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