Bears still weighing best return options despite inexperience issue

Burden had only one kick return in college and did return 24 punts for a 10.5-yard average, but half of those returns came when he was a freshman.

"We have really good options there," Hightower said. "Still going through it all. Guys still working. We're actually doing return day, so guys still competing back there to see who goes on Monday."

Burden's inexperience isn't as much of a factor for Hightower. It could beeasier for the Bears to come up with a viable game-day active roster if it was Burden on returns because he figures to have a greater role in the offense, too.

"That's a great observation because some rookies, they get in there and get nervous," Hightower said regarding Burden. "But the one thing about Luther Burden is he is as smooth as they come, man. He is confident. Nothing's too big for him.

"The game looks like it slows down to him all the time. He's gonna be a really good one. I don't know how long we'll have him (on special teams) because I think he's gonna be a really good wideout."

Perhaps Hightower is right and Burden is smooth. He should keep that to the offense. The Bears have had experience in recent years with a rookie return man/wide receiver being a bit unsteady fielding the ball. Of course, with Velus Jones it never improved and that meant even more than his initial failures.

For now, the best route appears to be Duvernay until proven otherwise with at least a game or so.