Knox's arduous recovery motivates Hester
Knox's arduous recovery motivates Hester
Bears receiver determined to improve game and to help friend return to action
By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter
8:24 p.m. CDT, May 30, 2012
Devin Hester's lips quivered. His voice cracked.
Tears might have rolled down the Bears wide receiver's face Wednesday if he had not taken a moment to collect himself. The source of Hester's emotion had everything to do with close friend and teammate Johnny Knox, who continues to work his way back from spinal fusion surgery.
"It's hard because I see Johnny every day, even on the weekend,'' Hester said. "It hurts me because we're real close. I do get real emotional because he's like a little brother to me.''
Knox, still sidelined, knows there's a chance he could miss the entire 2012 season as a result of the violent hit he absorbed Dec. 18 against the Seahawks. Hester has visited Halas Hall numerous times this offseason just to join Knox for a walk on the elliptical machine.
"I know he gets tired of the rehab because it's the same thing every day,'' Hester said. "You can tell he gets frustrated here and there because it seems like it's not working. But at the same time, it's going to be a miracle to get him back normal.
"I'm going to stick with him, encourage him and make sure that he doesn't give up.''
The Bears certainly aren't ready to give up on Hester despite the addition of three-time Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall. In fact, Marshall boldly claimed Hester would have a bigger year than he would. Then quarterback Jay Cutler voiced his support, saying Hester was having the best offseason of any of the receivers.
"That's my mentality every year — to be a top-notch receiver in this league,'' Hester said. "Regardless if it comes to deep balls (or) catching hitches and just making big plays out of it, that's my whole mentality. I'm just looking at myself as a playmaker.''
Hester continues to be arguably the most feared return man in the league, but he wasn't much of a threat on offense last season. He was fifth on the team in receptions with 26 catches for 369 yards and one touchdown. Hester had 40 or more catches the previous three seasons.
The attention Marshall will draw from defenses is likely to open things up for Hester. New offensive coordinator Mike Tice insisted Hester would have an integral role in the scheme he and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates are implementing.
"With the way the offense is designed, I only need about 40, 50 catches and can easily be close to 800, 900 yards receiving,'' Hester said. "With this offense, you might not have a lot of balls, but you're going to have a lot of big plays.''
Although Hester is accustomed to utilizing his speed on the outside, his work in the slot Wednesday might have offered a glimpse of his future role — depending on how rookie Alshon Jeffery develops. He beat cornerback Jonathan Wilhite and safety Chris Conte deep while working out of the slot in 7-on-7 drills.
"It's fun,'' Hester said of working inside. "It's easier to read coverages in the slot.''
Staying motivated should be a simple task for Hester, too. All he has to do is glance over at the guy wearing the No. 13 jersey.
"Days when I don't feel like doing anything, I kind of just sit back and look at Johnny,'' Hester said. "And I'm out here complaining about practice when here's a guy right now who wishes he could practice, let alone play in a game?
"I see what Johnny's going through and I say to myself, 'That could have been me.'''
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