On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears made two moves to bolster their special teams and running back depth. The team signed former Baltimore Ravens All-Pro return specialist Devin Duvernay to a one-year contract and re-signed Travis Homer, a running back and special teams contributor, also to a one-year deal.
Devin Duvernay, who was originally drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Texas, has made a name for himself as one of the league’s premier return specialists. Over four seasons with Baltimore and one with Jacksonville, Duvernay accumulated 1,053 yards on punt returns and 2,162 yards on kickoff returns, scoring two touchdowns. He also caught 977 yards worth of passes, with five touchdowns.
Duvernay’s breakout season came in 2021 when he earned first-team All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with an average of 13.8 yards per punt return. He also ranked seventh in the league in kickoff return average at 24.1 yards per return. Although he made another Pro Bowl appearance in 2022, his time with Jacksonville last year was less impactful. He had 19 punt returns for 167 yards and 14 kickoff returns for 351 yards, but he struggled to make an impact on offense, leading to his release by the Jaguars two weeks ago.
Travis Homer, who has been with the Seattle Seahawks for four seasons and the Bears for two, was re-signed to provide depth at running back and continue his contributions on special teams. Homer has accumulated 476 rushing yards and 475 receiving yards during his career. Last season with the Bears, he played in 10 games and recorded six special teams tackles, showcasing his value in non-offensive roles.
Both Duvernay and Homer will play key roles in strengthening the Bears’ special teams units, with Duvernay bringing elite return capabilities and Homer continuing his established work on special teams. These signings reflect the Bears’ focus on improving their depth at running back while also bolstering one of the most important areas of the game in special teams.
Let me know if you need more information on either of these moves or the impact they’ll have on the Bears!
