DeAndre Carter steps up as unlikely contributor at WR for Bears amid injuries

The Bears made big plans at wide receiver in the offseason, and journeyman DeAndre Carter wasn’t part of their blueprint.

He was unlikely to play anything but special teams with the Bears’ power trio of Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and No. 9 pick Rome Odunze ahead of him. Tyler Scott and maybe even Velus Jones were more likely to get snaps than Carter.

But plans change, and when they did, Carter, 31, was ready. His roles on offense and special teams expanded quickly because the Bears’ top three receivers suffered injuries and the team ran out of patience with Jones as a returner.

“I just make sure I know all the spots and am able to be plugged in wherever we need it,” he told the Sun-Times. “My main job in my career has been as a returner, so you kind of get put into a box. But the times in my career where I’ve had to play receiver, I’ve been productive and made plays.

“In my mind, I’m definitely a receiver first. That’s what I’d been my whole life. Being able to go out and show that is pretty cool.”

In addition to being a punt and kick returner, Carter is third on the team with 38 yards on four receptions in the first two games and has played half the offensive snaps. Caleb Williams has targeted him six times — same as tight end Cole Kmet and running back D’Andre Swift.

He has made that contribution despite getting few, if any, reps with Williams and the first-team offense in training camp.

The Bears are Carter’s 10th team since making it to the NFL as an undrafted wide receiver from Sacramento State in 2015, and he also was with them for two months in 2020. He has been productive, though, beyond special teams. Only two seasons ago, he caught 46 passes for 538 yards and three touchdowns with the Chargers.

Allen unlikely

With Allen still sidelined, Carter and Scott likely will have to play significant roles again Sunday, when the Bears visit the Colts. Allen was on a stationary bike at practice Thursday and has not taken the field since the Sept. 8 opener, when he caught four passes for 29 yards.

Allen’s heel injury traces back to last season, when he sat out the Chargers’ last four games. He seemed fine throughout the offseason until leaving practice Aug. 24 with what the team initially labeled an issue with his cleats.

Coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that there was no clear timeline for Allen’s return. Missing the first two days of practice is a bad sign for his availability.

Jenkins improving

There was some good news on the Bears’ injury situation: Left guard Teven Jenkins was back at practice.

Jenkins suffered a deep thigh bruise against the Texans and was held out entirely Wednesday. He did limited work Thursday, which points to him being good to go for practice Friday and the game.

This and that

Running back and core special-teamer Travis Homer, who had one carry for six yards in 20 snaps on offense against Houston, was limited because of a finger injury he apparently suffered Wednesday or Thursday.

† Defensive tackle Zacch Pickens (groin) and fullback Khari Blasingame (hand, knee) have not practiced this week.

† In addition to the Colts putting starting cornerback JuJu Brents and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve over the last two weeks, defensive end Laiatu Latu has been out with a hip injury this week.

Latu was the 15th pick in the draft this year.