Cubs News: Carter on Caleb Williams: "Kid's special. I'm not going to lie" |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - Wide receiver DeAndre Carter was one of Chicago’s later free agent signings as they picked him up in mid-June. Carter played with the Bears for four games back in 2020 but hopes to spend more time in Chicago this time around.
Reuniting with one coach he has developed a strong rapport with, Bears’ wide receiver coach, Chris Beatty, should certainly help him make more of an impact this upcoming season. “I had my best year in my career (with the Los Angeles Chargers) with Coach Beatty as my receiver coach. I think just over the years, though that year, we kept in contact last year. I think we’ve built a level of trust within each other,” Carter said. “He knows that I’m going to be on top of my stuff. He knows that primarily, my role has been throughout my career if something happens on game day, somebody goes down, or whatever it is, I’ve kind of been that guy that kind of (steps) in and (fills) in all the spots, and he knows that I can do that and I can do that well. I did that for him in LA, and so, I think it’s kind of just, we’ve built that level of trust with each other, and obviously, a familiar face is always welcoming when you’re coming into a new organization. So, me and Beatty, we got a really good relationship. That’s my guy.” During his six years in the NFL, Carter has also played a lot as a kick returner, putting him in the running for a starting kick returner job for Chicago which seems to be wide open currently. The kickoff is drastically different this season than it has been in previous seasons as the NFL works to find a balance between maintaining player safety and keeping the kickoff in the game. “When (you’re) trying out something new, (you) always got to iron out the wrinkles and everything. But, I do think it’s going to be really good for our special teams unit in the long run,” Carter said. “I think you’ll get a lot of big returns, especially earlier in the season while teams (are) still trying to figure out the rules and everything like that.” Carter also has extensive experience as a punt returner and has been working with rookie punter Tory Taylor. Taylor is a right-footed punter. But Carter says his kicks have a different spin to them, making his punts more difficult to catch when you are unfamiliar with his spin. “He’s got a little bit of a different spin on it than a normal righty, I’d say. A lot of hang time … Other than the spin, it’s just get to the spot and catch the ball. But, he’s going to be really (really) good,” Carter said. “With a normal righty, when the ball turns over, it’s going to fall to my left. Tory has a ball where it looks like it’s turning over, but then it’s almost like it dies and comes back (and) spins to the right. So, you kind of got to keep your feet moving. Once you see it a couple of times, you kind of know it’s coming.” When Carter played with the Chargers in 2022, he also made quite an impact as a wide receiver. He recorded a career-high 538 receiving yards and had three touchdowns. That season was also the most time he spent on the field for the offense as he played in 59 percent of the Chargers’ offensive snaps that season. This year with the Bears, Carter is trying to return to that game glory as a wide receiver and has been working with another rookie on Chicago’s roster - quarterback Caleb Williams, who he is quite impressed by. “Kid’s special, I’m not going to lie. Having a guy that you know can get you the ball regardless of what spot that you’re in or where he is. He’s got all the arm angles. But, knowing you got a guy that can get you the ball when the ball is supposed to be there definitely makes it easier for you as a receiver and then, just being able to see all the different throws that he’s been able to make, arm angles and things like that, is very special,” Carter said. “What I’ve been most impressed about him though for sure is just how engaged in wanting to get better he’s been. Speaking on learning a new offense, for a kid coming from college where it’s mostly hand signals and you’re on the ball a lot, having to get in a huddle and call the play, how fast he’s come along and been able to pick that up and translated it into on the field. Just like any quarterback, to have ups and downs with it, but how fast and how engaged he’s been in wanting to get better has been very, very exciting to see. Once he gets full control of the offense and gets comfortable in it, I always say, (he’s) going to be one of the ones for sure.” Williams did not play in Chicago’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans in the Hall of Fame game, which the Bears won 21-17. However, there is a chance he may play in the Bears’ next preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Noon / NFL Network).
