The Bears on Thursday placed punt returner/receiver DeAndre Carter on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The new roster designation was created this year for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or who have been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person.
Since being claimed by the Bears off waivers from the Texans Nov. 18, Carter has appeared in two games, returning one punt for five yards.
Carter became the fifth punt returner the Bears have utilized this season. Tarik Cohen suffered a season-ending torn ACL in a Week 3 win over the Falcons. Ted Ginn Jr. was waived after averaging just 4.8 yards on five returns. Dwayne Harris was lost for the season with a triceps injury in a Week 10 loss to the Vikings. Anthony Miller excelled after replacing Harris versus Minnesota, returning two punts for 12 and 32 yards. But the Bears claimed Carter two days later and employed him in that role.
Prior to joining the Bears, Carter had appeared in 39 NFL games with seven starts in three seasons with the Eagles (2018) and Texans (2018-20). He recorded 34 receptions for 386 yards and averaged 9.5 yards on 59 punt returns and 21.8 yards on 45 kickoff returns.
The 5-8, 190-pounder entered the NFL in 2015 with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Sacramento State. Carter also spent time with the Raiders (2015), Patriots (2015-16) and 49ers (2017-18), but he didn't appear in an NFL regular season game until the 2018 season opener with the Eagles.
Carter was waived by the Texans Nov. 17 after appearing in their first nine games this season, catching one pass for eight yards and averaging 8.7 yards on 11 punt returns and 20.8 yards on 12 kickoff returns.
