EXTRA POINTS

Return games

Running back Tarik Cohen’s muffed punt in Week 2 against the Buccaneers won’t be forgotten, but the rookie already is proving he can move on from his mistakes from week to week and make “mature” plays.

In the third quarter against the Steelers, Cohen was inside the Bears’ 10- yard line fielding a punt from Jordan Berry. He tracked the ball to his left, and Steelers gunner Darrius

Heyward- Bey followed him. But it was a trick. The punt’s trajectory actually went to Cohen’s right. The ball bounced inside the Bears’ 5 and then through the end zone for a touchback.

It was a savvy play made by a rookie but also one that often goes unrecognized. Such plays are crucial in terms of field position, especially in close games.

“We ask the returners to put themselves in that situation, and we work on decoy stuff,” specials- teams coordinator Jeff

Rodgers said. “We work on catch stuff. We work on decisionmaking back there.

“That was a very mature play by him. [ Cohen] drew their gunner away, and because it wasn’t like a line- drive punt, fortunately for us, they didn’t have a gunner in position to make that play.”

Special instincts

Coaches and scouts often point to certain players on offense or defense as having instincts. But core special- teamers such as Sherrick McManis possess them as well, Rodgers said.

McManis, of course, is coming off an outstanding game against the Steelers. He blocked a field goal and recovered a muffed punt as the gunner.

“He’s played [ special teams] for a while,” Rodgers said. “He’s been in that role for a while. He’s been in a lot of situations, and the better players kind of learn quicker what works for them, what works against the opponent, and just trying to come up with a game plan in order to win more often than not.”