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Devin Hester injury: Bears return specialist won't play

The Chicago Bears will be without Devin Hester (concussion) against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 13. Can Eric Weems provide the punch the Bears have been looking for in the return game?

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

The Chicago Bears haven't seen the production they want from the kick and punt return game so far this season, and this week Devin Hester (concussion) officially out, so Dave Toub may lean on Eric Weems this week to provide a spark. Hester may be the best return man in the history of the NFL, but he hasn't done much this season. He has yet to score a touchdown on a kick or punt, and at times he has been sent to the bench due to poor decision making and bad routes on returns.

Weems has only taken one punt and one kick to the house during his NFL career, but it will be interesting to see if he can make a bigger impact than Hester just by pushing directly up-field and avoiding the circuitous routes that have plagued Hester. Weems is expected to carry the load on kick returns, while Toub has been willing to use Earl Bennett, who will see more targets as a wide receiver with Hester out, on punt returns over the past few seasons.