The Bears are bringing back special teams ace DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal, the team said Thursday.
Carson, a little-used safety forced into dime coverage because of injuries, made game-clinching plays in back-to-back weeks last season, deflecting Tom Brady’s pass on fourth down to beat the Buccaneers and intercepting Teddy Bridgewater’s pass to beat the Panthers.
Only one player participated in more special teams snaps last year than Houston-Carson, who appeared in 81.94 % of the Bears’ kicking downs. He’s never started a game in five years, but been a special teams stalwart since the Bears selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft out of William & Mary.
“DHC, he leads by example,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said in December. “He’s a very well-prepared player that does a lot of things for us behind the scenes.”
In his Bears career, Houston-Carson has logged one interception, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. He spent the last two seasons playing for position coach Sean Desai, who was promoted to defensive coordinator earlier this offseason.
