Hester takes aim at starting wide receiver job

Devin Hester is still a work in progress at wide receiver, but he seemed to be able to work his way free behind the defense for huge gains almost at will throughout the weekend's minicamp.

The depth chart at wideout is in flux with newcomers Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd figuring prominently in the mix, along with Hester, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley and rookie Earl Bennett, plus holdovers Mike Hass and Brandon Rideau fighting for roster spots.

"Right now the position is wide open," Hester said. "The best two are going to step up and play."

Hester sees himself as a starter; if not now, then soon.

"If you're a receiver and you don't feel that way, then you don't deserve to be out here on the field," he said. "It's competing for a job, and that's how the next man (on the depth chart) gets better. That's what I'm out here doing, and when the season kicks off, I'm hoping I'll be one of the No. 1 guys."

Booker and Lloyd have gotten most of the first-team reps, but Hester has also been utilized. Receivers coach Darryl Drake said no final decisions have been made.

"Right now we don't have clear-cut starters," Drake said. "Those guys (Booker and Lloyd) are in the mix. Devin is in the mix. So those guys are probably the ones."

Hester has been focusing on running more precise routes and fine-tuning his timing with quarterbacks Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. He said the mental aspect of his game has improved over last season, his first as a full-time receiver.

"I'm a lot better at knowing the game," he said. "I'm starting to understand the defense as well as the offense."

For now, though, Hester's forte remains the deep ball, where he can utilize his rare speed to get behind even the fastest cornerbacks. His communication with the quarterbacks on those plays is simple.

"Whenever we have a deep ball, I just tell them throw it as far as you can and hopefully I'm going to run it down," he said.

Here and there: For the second straight day cornerback Charles Tillman had an excused absence for personal reasons, and linebacker Lance Briggs was also excused from Sunday's final minicamp practice. Corey Graham filled in at cornerback with the first team in Tillman's absence, while Jamar Williams took Briggs' spot on the weak side.

Undrafted free-agent rookie defensive end Gerard Lee was ineligible to participate in minicamp because the spring semester at Oregon State has not been completed. ... Free agent punter Glenn Patulak was released.