After giving up two touchdowns, Bears’ special-teams players have a ‘scar’

Blocking on a punt Sunday, Bears tight end Ben Braunecker was beaten by Dont’a Hightower. He was blown back so hard that his feet got tangled.

On Thursday, Braunecker called the play, in which Hightower blocked the punt, a nightmare situation.

Special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor, though, is giving him another shot.

“He’s been solid for us all year, and I’ve got a lot of confidence in that guy, and I can’t wait to watch him play,” Tabor said.

Braunecker said he appreciated the support and was ready to put the game behind him.

The rest of the Bears’ special-teamers are, too, after giving up two touchdowns to the Patriots: Cordarrelle Patterson’s 95-yard kickoff return and the blocked punt, which was returned 29 yards by Kyle Van Noy.

Tabor was asked directly if cornerback Sherrick McManis was blocked in the back during the kickoff return but demurred. He said cornerback Kevin Toliver, who came the closest to stopping Patterson, needs to come to a better balance before attempting a tackle.

After the Bears missed a game-winning field goal two weeks ago, it would be easy for Tabor to stress. He’s not.

“We were in an accident; we got a cut; it hurts right now,’’ he said. “It’s going to heal. We’re going to have a scar there to remember, ‘Hey, we can’t do those things again,’ and just stay on point.”

Mack, Robinson sit out again

For a second consecutive day, outside linebacker Khalil Mack (right ankle), wide receiver Allen Robinson (groin) and guard Eric Kush (neck) were held out of practice.

Coach Matt Nagy said the Bears were putting Mack on the same practice plan as last week, when the star pass rusher sat out Wednesday and Thursday before returning on a limited basis Friday.

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Robinson, who missed one practice last week with the groin injury, sat out the last three series Sunday when he felt the injury again. Kush is dealing with the lingering effects from a stinger suffered weeks ago.

Cornerback Marcus Cooper was a full participant for the first time since he hurt his hamstring leading into the Cardinals game.

This and that

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio seemed to shoot down the rumor that the Bears’ coaching staff was unaware the team planned to draft quarterback Mitch Trubisky in 2017 when he was asked about Jets safety Jamal Adams, who was picked sixth that year.

“Contrary to public opinion, I had a feeling what was happening,” he said of the Bears taking Trubisky.

◆ Jets wide receivers Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa, who have ankle injuries, did not practice. Neither did cornerback Trumaine Johnson (quadriceps) and center Spencer Long (knee, finger).