Free agent Devin Hester confirmed he won't be back with the Bears. "From my knowledge, I know that Chicago wants to go a different route with me," admitted Hester, who has been with the Bears since Lovie Smith drafted him in 2006. Finally back to being just a return man last season, Hester averaged 27.6 yards on 52 kickoff returns (fifth in the league) and brought back one punt for a score.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Devin Hester is as good as gone from Chicago. Hester has been with Chicago since 2006. There are rumblings Hester may be reunited with former coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay, but Rapoport does not see it happening. Hester was used as a strict return man in 2013, finishing fifth in kick-return average at 27.7 yards per return.

Former Bears beat reporter Dan Pompei says "some suspect" free agent Devin Hester is headed to the Bucs. It's a logical suspicion because Lovie Smith is now the head coach of the Bears. Smith allowed Hester to work as a receiver in addition to his return duties for the Bears from 2006-12, something the 31-year-old surely enjoyed. Under Marc Trestman last season, Hester was a strict return man and finished fifth in kick-return average at 27.7 yards per return.

The Bears have been giving Devin Hester practice reps at defensive back. Hester is only an emergency option in the secondary, but has some NFL and college experience at cornerback. The Bears would turn to Derrick Martin and Sherrick McManis if Tim Jennings, Zackary Bowman, or Isaiah Frey got hurt before using Hester. Hester has been an effective punt returner this season, averaging 13.3 yards with an 81-yard score. He's averaging 28.2 yards on kick returns.

Devin Hester is practicing solely as a returner. That had been the expectation since Marc Trestman was hired as coach. GM Phil Emery is expecting a big season. "He's got a light," Emery said. "I think he feels very good about where his body is at, where his mind is at, to have that type of season and we're looking forward to watching him." Hester is completely off the fantasy radar.

Bears coach Marc Trestman says Devin Hester is "competing" for return duties. Already phased out of the offense, Hester doesn't even have the dignity of being guaranteed a role he's synonymous with. Going on 31, Hester is no longer the game-breaking special teams talent of his prime, but it would be surprising if he couldn't hold down return duties. His $1.857 million salary is a complicating factor, however.

The Bears are hoping to use Devin Hester as a gunner on punt coverage. Hester isn't going to play on offense, so he needs to find other ways to contribute outside of kick and punt returns. "The biggest thing about a great gunner sometimes is the guy who can get their fastest," special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said. "We had a guy in Denver long time ago, he was an Olympic sprinter named Sam Graddy. Sam wasn't the best tackler in the world, but he sure caused a lot of fair catches."

Bears return specialist Devin Hester isn't running receiver routes during offseason workouts. Hester was holding out a glimmer of hope he'd see time on offense this season, but it's not going to happen. Hester's already minuscule fantasy value is now nonexistent outside of leagues with return yards.

Devin Hester has accepted that he'll be a return specialist in 2013. "(As) of right now, I know that I'm going here first into this season as the main kickoff return man," Hester said. "As of right now, that's my main focus - to get my swagger back." Hester insisted the "door is not closed on" him playing offense, but coach Marc Trestman has indeed slammed it shut. If all goes according to plan, Hester will notch zero catches this season.

New Coach Marc Trestman said Devin Hester will strictly be a returner this season. At long last, the Bears finally have an offensive-minded coach that can evaluate film. Hester was always a liability as a receiver, and Chicago's insistence on using him as one often crippled the offense. Trestman said Hester might not even practice with the wideouts this year. Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett and Martellus Bennett will be Jay Cutler's top-four pass-catching options.