Bears add WR Devin Thomas

The Bears haven’t confirmed or denied reports that former No. 1 wide receiver Johnny Knox won’t be ready to play when the 2012 season begins, but they seem to be operating under the assumption he won’t.

Wednesday night the Bears announced the addition of their third wide receiver since free agency began on March 13, when they signed Devin Thomas to a one-year deal. Two weeks ago the Bears traded for three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall and signed unrestricted free agent Eric Weems.

Bears coach Lovie Smith was asked then about Knox, who underwent spinal fusion surgery in December after suffering the injury on a vicious hit against the Seahawks on Dec. 18.

“He’s come a long ways,” Smith said, “and he has a long ways to go.”

In Thomas, the Bears have added another big receiver to 2011’s undersized group that did not have a player with more than 37 catches and no one close to Knox’s 727 yards.

The 6-foot-2, 221-pound Thomas was a big deal coming out of Michigan State, and he was selected early in the second round (34th overall) in the 2008 draft by the Redskins. Thomas led the Big Ten with 1,260 receiving yards on 79 catches in his final season with the Spartans and set the conference record with 1,350 kickoff-return yards, averaging 29.1 yards per attempt.

But he has never come close to living up to his draft status. In four seasons, Thomas has just 43 receptions for 482 yards (11.2-yard average) and 3 touchdowns. He had just 3 catches for 37 yards last season with the Giants, but he had 25 kickoff returns for 607 yards (24.3-yard average), and 8 special teams tackles.

During the Giants Super Bowl 46 title run, he had 2 fumble recoveries on special teams, including one that set up the game-winning field goal in overtime of the NFC championship.