Bears coach Matt Nagy furious as punt returner DeAndre Carter hit in head

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In an otherwise pleasant afternoon for the Bears, coach Matt Nagy erupted on the sideline after punt returner DeAndre Carter took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars fullback Bruce Miller midway through the third quarter.

Both players lowered their heads as they collided, and both suffered for it. Carter looked disoriented as he tried to lunge after his fumble, and Miller left the game with a concussion. Carter wobbled as the Bears helped him to the sideline, and he was cleared to return after being checked for a concussion.

The flag on Miller for unnecessary roughness did not come quickly enough for Nagy, who was clearly livid.

“When that goes on, you always are gonna protect your guys,” Nagy said. “He’s a warrior. He made that catch and run, and then it was a vicious hit.

“I just want to make sure that he was OK, No. 1, and then, No. 2, that they get the call right, which they did. I credit them for that. The refs did a great job looking at that.”

Carter returned three punts after the play with Miller.

The Bears have had five punt returners this season, with Carter being signed last month, then missing time after testing positive for the coronavirus.