When the Bears signed DeAndre Carter in June, Richard Hightower knew exactly what type of player and person the team was getting.
The special teams coordinator coached the receiver/return specialist with the 49ers in 2017-18, and both have already benefited from their reunion in Chicago. Carter was an unsung hero in last Sunday's 24-17 season-opening win over the Titans, returning four punts for 64 yards one kickoff for 67 yards.
"I thought he did a phenomenal job in the football game," Hightower said. "He was aggressive. He attacked the football. DeAndre is exactly the type of human being that goes out [and] just works his tail off."
Hightower first observed that quality in San Francisco when Carter spent the 2017 season on the 49ers practice squad and then remained with the team for part of the 2018 offseason.
"When I was with the Niners, he was with me for a while, and I really wish we could have done it together sooner," Hightower said. "And that's exactly what he said when he signed here. He's like, 'Now we'll really get a chance to do it together, do it in a real live setting.' So, I'm just happy and proud for him."
Hightower felt that Carter provided an "extreme boost" for the Bears in Sunday's opener. His 67-yard kickoff return late in the first half set up a Cairo Santos field goal after the Titans had stormed out to a 17-0 lead.
"The blockers did a great job for him," Hightower said. "He did a great job getting the ball in plus territory, flipping the field for us a couple different times. He's an unselfish player and he just wanted all of the credit to go to the people that were blocking for him. Selfless human being."
Carter entered the NFL with the Ravens in 2015 as an undrafted free agent from Sacramento State. He also spent time with the Raiders (2015), Patriots (2015-16) and 49ers before playing in his first regular-season game with the Eagles in 2018.
The 5-8, 190-pounder was with the Texans from 2018-20 before appearing in four games with the Bears in 2020. He later played for the Commanders (2021), Chargers (2022) and Raiders (2023) before returning for a second stint in Chicago.
Carter has appeared in 95 NFL games with 21 starts, catching 109 passes for 1,265 yards and one touchdown, averaging 22.8 yards with one touchdown on 119 kickoff returns and averaging 9.9 yards on 137 punt returns.
He returned punts from the outset of last weekend's season opener but didn't add kickoff return duties until after Velus Jones Jr. fumbled a kickoff.
It's unclear whether Carter will handle both roles Sunday night when the Bears visit the Texans.
"I'm totally comfortable with DeAndre doing such; that's why he did it to finish the game," Hightower said. "But we'll see. I mean, they're out there competing and working their tail off and I know DeAndre really wants that role and he really takes it serious and his teammates [do] as well."
Hightower was candid but also empathetic when discussing Jones' miscue.
"As a human, I hurt for the kid, I really do," Hightower said. "But as a coach, we have to evaluate all of our options. And he knows in the return game the No. 1 thing is to take care of the football."
