Bears Questions: Who Returns Kicks?

The Bears struggled to return kicks effectively during the first half of the 2015 season as Marc Mariani was near the bottom of the league in yards per return average and also had some ball security issues.

Mariani improved as the season went on, but the Bears replaced him with Deonte Thompson, whom they elevated from the practice squad for the last seven games of the season. Thompson averaged 29.2 yards per kick once he took over, which would have been good for 2nd best in the league if he had enough returns to qualify. The Vikings Cordarrelle Patterson led the league with 31.2 ypr.

Thompson’s impressive returns, including a long of 74, boosted the Bears team return average to 27 ypr which was good for third in the league. After how bad the return game was early in the season, ranking that high at the end was a shocker.

Both players were re-signed by the Bears to one-year deals this off-season and the Bears also added some competition in veteran return man Omar Bolden and a couple of undrafted rookies with blazing speed in Kieran Duncan and Derek Keaton. It should be an interesting position battle that may come down to who adds the most value in other parts of the game.

I’ll break down all of the kick returner prospects below as well as predict who I think will be the Bears primary kick returner in 2016.

Who Returns Kicks for the Bears?

Marc Mariani – Started the 2015 season as the Bears primary kick returner, but lost his job to Deonte Thompson in week 10. Mariani still got the occasional return to spell Thompson over the 2nd half and looked better than he did early in the season, bumping his overall return average to 26.1 ypr.

If Mariani had enough returns to qualify, he would have finished 6th in the NFL in yards per return. Neither player had enough returns to qualify, but had they the Bears would have had two of the top six returners in the league. That’s a good problem to have.

Whether he returns kicks or not, Mariani’s roster spot is secure after he developed a good rapport with Cutler as a slot receiver. With the Bears receiving core depleted, Mariani stepped up and made plenty of clutch 3rd down catches last year.

Mariani was also the Bears primary punt returner for the whole 2015 season. He has more than enough value to earn a roster spot regardless of whether he returns kicks or not.

Next: Kick Returner Options