Three observations from Sunday’s 17-15 Broncos win at Soldier Field:
1. New returner
The Bears had a new kick returner Sunday: wide receiver Deonte Thompson, who made his season debut after appearing in 14 games with the Ravens and Bills dating to 2012.
In place of Marc Mariani — who still returned punts — the Florida alum returned kickoffs for 28 and 26 yards. He found out about the switch Saturday.
“Something I’ve been waiting on,” said Thompson, who returned 22 kicks for the Ravens. “An opportunity I’ve been waiting on my whole life, man. … it’s just exciting.”
2. Another safety
When safety Antrel Rolle injured his knee Saturday, Chris Prosinski drew his start — only his second since the end of the 2012 season. The 28-year-old said he was prepared — “Short notice, which is something you see around the league all the time,” he said — even if the Bears’ allowed a touchdown on the Broncos’ first series.
“After that first series, we settled down and played,” he said.
3. Ward’s word
Saying he was relieved the Broncos stuffed the Bears’ two-point conversion, safety T.J. Ward said the Bears didn’t deserve to tie the game,
anyway.
“I don’t feel they got down there by honest measure,” he said. “I don’t feel they got down the field honestly. To stop them, it was very fulfilling.”
Ward — whose moral authority is undercut by his unnecessary roughness flag Sunday — was mad about Bradley Roby’s 18-yard pass interference flag, covering Martellus Bennett, that gave the Bears the ball at the 11 with 53 seconds remaining.
