Hester looks forward to Florida homecoming
Devin Hester came close, but he wasn't able to establish the NFL career record for kick-return touchdowns Sunday at Soldier Field.
Doing it in South Florida on Thursday night against the Dolphins might be even more rewarding, since Hester is from nearby Riviera Beach and will have around 40 friends and family members watching.
“I'm hoping to put on a show for my family,” said Hester, who took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLI the last time he played in what is now called Sun Life Stadium.
Because it was the postseason, that one didn't count among his 13 kick-return TDs, which leaves him tied with Brian Mitchell for the career record. But returning to the scene of maybe his most memorable touchdown isn't as important to Hester as getting to play in front of his people.
“It's just being able to be back at home with my family and those people other than my mom and my dad and my brother, who don't get a chance to get out and watch me play, like my aunt and cousins. They'll get an opportunity to see me too.”
Hester, who seems to have an incredible flair for the dramatic, admits it's different playing to a captive audience.
“I don't get as fatigued,” he said. “I'm just playing. It's going to be very exciting.
“I couldn't do it last week, so I (thought), ‘If it's not in Chicago, it might be a good idea to do it down there.' ”
Hester has scored his 13 TDs in just 69 games and on 268 total chances. Mitchell played 223 games and had 1,070 chances.
Better protection:
In addition to keeping quarterback Jay Cutler upright, the improved protection by the offensive line in the past two games is allowing the quarterback to scramble for important yardage.
“The guys are protecting up front, and they're giving me some time back there, so some lanes are opening up,” said Cutler, who has bolted the pocket six times in the past two weeks for 68 yards. “If no one's open, I'm probably going to take off and try to make something happen either through the ground or move the pocket and throw it. The longer you're back there and creating opportunities for the guys, the better off you're going to be.”
Cutler said knowing when to take off and when not to takes time to learn.
“You can't practice that,” he said. “That's just got to come with experience with the same guys in game situations. We're starting to build that, and they're starting to get more of a feel for what I'm going to do and I'm getting a feel for what they're going to do.”
Picture of health:
Every player practiced Tuesday, although linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee), cornerback Zack Bowman (foot) and wide receivers Rashied Davis (quad), Devin Hester (shoulder) and Johnny Knox (ankle) were all limited but are expected to be available Thursday.
For the Dolphins, quarterback Chad Henne (knee) did not practice, offensive tackle Jake Long (shoulder) was limited and linebacker Cameron Wake (hip), who is second in the NFL with 8½ sacks, participated in full.