The Bears are bringing back special-teams ace DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.
The little-used safety, who was forced into dime coverage because of injuries, made game-clinching plays in back-to-back weeks last season, deflecting Tom Brady’s pass on fourth down to beat the Buccaneers on Oct. 8 and intercepting Teddy Bridgewater’s pass to beat the Panthers.
Only one player had more special-teams snaps last year than Houston-Carson, who appeared on 81.94% of the Bears’ kicking downs. He has never started a game in five years but has been a special-teams stalwart since the Bears drafted him in the sixth round in 2016 out of William & Mary.
“DHC, he leads by example,” special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor said in December. “He’s a very well-prepared player that does a lot of things for us behind the scenes.”
In his Bears career, Houston-Carson has one interception, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. He spent the last two seasons playing for position coach Sean Desai, who was promoted to defensive coordinator earlier this offseason.
