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The Chicago Bears continue to add to their roster this offseason with the signing of wide receiver and return specialist Devin Duvernay, who signed a one-year contract.
Duvernay, who spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joins a Bears receiver room led by DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, who is looking to grow into a bigger role in his second season. The team also added veteran Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, adding more depth with the likely departure of Keenan Allen, who spent just one season with Chicago last year.
Here are five things to know about new Bears receiver and return specialist Devin Duvernay:
Even from the beginning of his collegiate career as a true freshman, Duvernay found playing time and considerably got better each year at Texas. Duvernay finished his Longhorns career with a total of 176 receptions, 2,468 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Duvernay's best collegiate season came in 2019 with the Longhorns, where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors after leading the entire conference in receptions (106) and yards (1,341) as a senior. Duvernay's college success was a precursor to his success at the NFL level when he began his career with the Ravens.
While he didn't have the same success as a wide receiver in the professional ranks, Duvernay established himself as one of the top return specialists in the NFL early in his career. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and 2022 as a specialist, and, in what was the best season of his career on special teams, Duvernay was also named a First-Team All Pro in 2021.
How's this for a fun fact. Duvernay, similar to fellow newcomer Olamide Zaccheaus, scored his first career touchdown on a 93-yard play. For Zaccheaus, it was a 93-yard touchdown reception from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, while Duvernay showed his special teams prowess on a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown.
During his All-Pro season in 2021, Duvernay was the only return specialist in the NFL to rank in the Top 10 in two separate categories -- finishing seventh in kickoff return yardage (24.1) and first in punt return yardage (13.8) on the year. Duvernay will now join a Bears special teams unit that retained two core pieces of their roster from last year in Josh Blackwell and Amen Ogbongbemiga, and the veteran's arrival likely means less opportunities for Tyler Scott.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears to sign Devin Duvernay: 5 things to know about Chicago's new WR
Continue reading...
Duvernay, who spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joins a Bears receiver room led by DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, who is looking to grow into a bigger role in his second season. The team also added veteran Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, adding more depth with the likely departure of Keenan Allen, who spent just one season with Chicago last year.
Here are five things to know about new Bears receiver and return specialist Devin Duvernay:
1. Duvernay is a former third-round pick
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Even from the beginning of his collegiate career as a true freshman, Duvernay found playing time and considerably got better each year at Texas. Duvernay finished his Longhorns career with a total of 176 receptions, 2,468 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
2. Duvernay is a former first-team All-Big 12 selection
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Duvernay's best collegiate season came in 2019 with the Longhorns, where he earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors after leading the entire conference in receptions (106) and yards (1,341) as a senior. Duvernay's college success was a precursor to his success at the NFL level when he began his career with the Ravens.
3. Duvernay is a 2-time Pro Bowl selection, All-Pro selection
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While he didn't have the same success as a wide receiver in the professional ranks, Duvernay established himself as one of the top return specialists in the NFL early in his career. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and 2022 as a specialist, and, in what was the best season of his career on special teams, Duvernay was also named a First-Team All Pro in 2021.
4. Duvernay's first career touchdown went 93 yards
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How's this for a fun fact. Duvernay, similar to fellow newcomer Olamide Zaccheaus, scored his first career touchdown on a 93-yard play. For Zaccheaus, it was a 93-yard touchdown reception from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, while Duvernay showed his special teams prowess on a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown.
5. Duvernay ranked in the Top 10 as a return specialist in 2021
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During his All-Pro season in 2021, Duvernay was the only return specialist in the NFL to rank in the Top 10 in two separate categories -- finishing seventh in kickoff return yardage (24.1) and first in punt return yardage (13.8) on the year. Duvernay will now join a Bears special teams unit that retained two core pieces of their roster from last year in Josh Blackwell and Amen Ogbongbemiga, and the veteran's arrival likely means less opportunities for Tyler Scott.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears to sign Devin Duvernay: 5 things to know about Chicago's new WR
Continue reading...
