Can Chris Williams provide many happy returns?

Chris Williams is expected to become the Bears' third kickoff returner of the young season Sunday against the Panthers.

The job was handled the previous two weeks by Rashad Ross, who was waived Tuesday but re-signed to the practice squad Thursday. Williams was promoted from the practice squad Tuesday, and a day later the Bears added cornerback / return specialist Teddy Williams, who was signed to the 53-man roster off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.

Change has been the only constant in the Bears' kickoff-return game that has provided little firepower thus far.

Senorise Perry got the first crack at the job but was replaced by Ross after two 21-yard returns, one in each of the first two games. Ross averaged 21.2 yards on 5 returns in Weeks 3 and 4.

There's no guarantee Williams will hang on to the job any longer than his predecessors.

"Chris Williams will be available, and that's where we'll probably start, with Senorise as the off returner," said Bears coach Marc Trestman. "But that could change as well."

Williams was one of the favorites to win the job in training camp, and he'll finally get his chance after pinballing back and forth between the practice squad and the 53-man roster while being waived twice since Aug. 30.

Williams suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason, which kept him from getting return experience, and he was not as consistent catching the ball in practice as special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis would prefer. But DeCamillis says the 5-foot-8, 175-pounder is healthier and more prepared now.

"He's caught more balls (in practice)," DeCamillis said. "He knows what we're trying to do, what the system is, all those kinds of things. Hopefully we get some opportunities."

Panthers kicker Graham Gano led the NFL last season with a 79.7 percent touchback rate, and he's been even better this year with 15 of his 18 kickoffs (83.3 percent) resulting in touchbacks.

Doesn't matter:

When veteran Tony Fiammetta's contract was terminated Sept. 25, it left the Bears without a true fullback and lead blocker on the roster, which is just fine with running back Matt Forte.

"I'm indifferent about it," Forte said of running behind a lead blocker. "Sometimes when you get a lead blocker in there, it kind of just packs the line up a little more. Sometimes, if you spread people out a little bit in a short-yardage situation, there are less people to deal with."

Iron man down:

Offensive left tackle Jermon Bushrod's streak of 80 straight starts ends Sunday.

"I thought about that already," the eight-year veteran said Friday. "And being that you just brought it up again, it doesn't make me feel good. Ya know? I don't know how many it is in a row. But it's coming to an end this week."

Bushrod injured his right ankle and knee at practice Wednesday when a teammate accidentally rolled up on his leg.

"We were in full pads," he said. "We were competing. We were fighting to get after it. These kinds of things happen. It's nothing crazy crazy. We'll be able to get through it. We'll continue to go uphill instead of downhill with this deal. I want to continue to get better and not stress on it anymore."

Bushrod hopes to be back soon but said it was too soon to offer a time line for his return.

Light duty:

Coming back from the pneumonia that grounded him last week, defensive end Jared Allen won't play as much vs. the Panthers as he did in the first three games, when he was on the field for 90 percent of the snaps.

"He looks like he's gained a lot of energy this week," coach Marc Trestman said. "Hopefully the loss of weight won't debilitate him too much in the game."

Allen lost 15 pounds in the week leading up to the Packers game Sept. 28, dropping from 254 to 239.