Bears 2020 training camp preview: Special teams

The Bears have a much more stable unit than they did last year. Here’s how all key special teams contributors stack up heading into camp.

KR Cordarrelle Patterson

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Bears fans had a glimpse of what was to come from wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson back in 2018 when he torched his soon-to-be team as a member of the New England Patriots when he scored a return touchdown at Soldier Field. Signed to a two-year, $10 million deal in 2019, Patterson earned his paycheck as the MVP of the Bears special teams. In his first season with the Bears, he led the league in total kickoff return yards (825) and finished second with 29.46 average yards per return. Patterson also was a key gunner during punt returns, pinning teams deep thanks to his speed and physicality. He was named first team All-Pro last season.

Patterson does it all on special teams and has carved out a niche on offense as a gadget player. There was concern that the team could try and move him to try and free up cap space, but that doesn’t appear to be an option. Patterson will become a free agent at the end of the year and may be too expensive for the Bears to bring back. He’ll be ready for 2020 though and will look to build on an impressive 2019 campaign as the team’s special teams ace.

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