The current Bears roster features two players who returned six punts between them in 2016. Bryce Callahan and Cre'Von LeBlanc are still getting opportunities in practice, along with Daniel Braverman. But a pair of fourth-round rookies likely have the inside track.
Both safety Eddie Jackson (112th overall) and running back Tarik Cohen (119th overall) may be the front-runners to take over the job, but their workload at their respective positions could be a factor as well.
That will all play out in a preseason that calls for rare four-quarter attention this August because of numerous position battles to watch. This important special teams area, where the Bears have been less-than-special since the magical Devin Hester's departure, is one to watch, especially if it's thrown into the hands of inexperience, yet explosive potential.
Cohen was "saved" from being exposed in the return game at North Carolina A&T because of his value on offense. He had just one career punt and kick return each, but his short-area electricity is easy to notice. Jackson wasn't given the gig until his senior year at Alabama, when he averaged 23 yards, and had two returns for touchdowns in 11 attempts for the Crimson Tide before breaking his leg in November.
These two, who met in the backfield in Saturday's Soldier Field scrimmage when the safety tackled the back for a three-yard loss, will be an interesting watch in exhibitions.
"Both of them have demonstrated good ball skills. They're athletic, but totally different in physical traits," said special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers Friday. "Tarik is a little more explosive, Eddie is a little more smooth, a little bigger. It'll be interesting to see them do this in the preseason and kind of adapt to that NFL speed and schematically, the things we're asking them to and what they're gonna face from opposing teams."
The 5-foot-6 Cohen is small in stature, but big in his thirst to create an immediate impact, somehow, some way.
"He's got a big personality. He's into it," Rodgers said. "I think I've heard (running backs coach Curtis) Modkins describe him as 'hungry' and I feel the same thing. Guys like him have a chip on their shoulder. They're out to prove they belong and can be effective in this league. If practice is any indication, he's probably right — that he's ready to start doing this stuff. But again, it's game reps and proving it in the preseason.
"When it comes to practice, you earn opportunities to increase your reps. You do well in practice, you get more playing time in the preseason, and that accelerates into the regular season.
"We're excited to see where he's at. Obviously his level of competition now is a little different than where he's been in the past. So far, he's done some good things in camp."
But would Rodgers dare put Cohen in a position in which he's rarely been, at the highest level?
"Tarik says, 'I did it every day at practice in college,' and is now doing it every day out here (in training camp)," he said. "There's not a lot of evidence on tape of him doing it in games. The thing I've learned over time, especially with young returners, is the college punt game is totally different. From the spread alignments, the rugby punts, the hang times are, like, four seconds. Every year, there might be one rookie punter in this league.
"And punters are just so good, the ball's in the air, the coverage is gonna be a little bit closer, guys chasing you are a little bit faster. So yeah, that game stuff is a little more important for us."
Just as it in the Bears' secondary, wide receiver, and tight end positions. What were exhibitions that hardly seemed important will shape key positions on these 2017 Bears. Like punt returner, as well.