The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Falcons release return specialist Hester
Star return specialist Devin Hester was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday following an injury-shortened 2015 season. Hester, 33, set an NFL record with 20 career returns for touchdowns.
Star return specialist Devin Hester was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday following an injury-shortened 2015 season.
The 33-year-old Hester is a three-time All-Pro who set an NFL record with 20 career returns for touchdowns. He began his career with the Chicago Bears before signing a three-year, $9 million deal with Atlanta before the 2014 season.
A turf toe injury knocked out most of his season in 2015. He had 269 total return yards during the last five games of the year. He had surgery in January, preventing him from full participation in offseason workouts.
General manager Thomas Dimitroff said the decision to release Hester — two days before the first practice of training camp — was about more than the toe injury.
“He passed his physical,” Dimitroff said Tuesday. “It was a football decision for us at the very end. Not to be evasive about it, we wish him all the luck. We think it’s best for the organization for us to move forward.”
Coach Dan Quinn said wide receiver Eric Weems will continue to work on punt and kickoff returns. Wide receivers Justin Hardy, Nick Williams and Devin Fuller, a rookie, also will compete on punt returns. Running back Tevin Coleman, the top backup to starter Devonta Freeman, is an option on kickoff returns.
The long list of candidates on returns was a factor in the move.
“We’ve got some guys we’re pretty pumped up about to see what they can do,” Quinn said.
Hester apparently saw his release coming. On Wednesday, he posted on his Twitter account “That look on your face when they count you out !!!!! (hash) motivation”
Hester was drafted by the Bears as a cornerback from Miami in 2006. He switched to wide receiver and has 255 career catches for 3,311 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had 38 catches for 504 yards with Atlanta in 2014.
Hester holds the record with 14 punt returns for touchdowns, including a 68-yarder with the Falcons in 2014. He had a careerhigh four punt returns for touchdowns in 2007, when he also returned two kickoffs for scores.
Quinn described Hester as “a guy I have tons of respect for.”
“Devin is a real pro so we wish him nothing but the best,” he added.
Players report Wednesday and open camp Thursday. COLTS PUT VARGA ON DID NOT REPORT LIST >> The Indianapolis Colts put Tyler Varga on the reserve-did not report list Tuesday.
Varga, a Yale grad, played in three games in 2015, but finished the season on injured reserve with a concussion. He participated in the Colts’ offseason workouts.
Coach Chuck Pagano did not take questions when the Colts reported to training camp at Anderson University. Indy has its first practice today. REDSKINS LOSE GALETTE FOR SEASON >> The Washington Redskins were dealt a big blow before the start of training camp when linebacker Junior Galette tore his right Achilles tendon and is out for the season.
Galette missed last season with a torn left Achilles tendon. This latest injury came while preparing for camp. He tweeted about it Monday, and coach Jay Gruden confirmed Galette’s status Tuesday.
“Junior did everything he had to do to get his Achilles ready to play this year, worked as hard as anybody in the weight room getting himself ready and was just doing some standard getoffs, I guess, and popped the other one,” Gruden said on Richmond, Virginia, radio station ESPN 950. “It happens. It’s kind of weird because a lot of times when somebody tears one Achilles the next one comes soon after.”
The loss of Galette is a major setback to the defense, which added All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman during free agency. Galette was supposed to boost Washington’s pass rush.
The coaching staff’s plan was to keep Galette out of organized team workouts until camp as he made his way back from the left Achilles injury. In May, Galette said he was as excited as he has ever been during his football career, and Gruden called him “a kid at Christmas” waiting for his chance to play.
Galette posted a series of tweets and videos of workouts on Monday and Tuesday with various messages about the injury. He said on Instagram he was more explosive than before he tore his left Achilles tendon and on Twitter he promised to return better than ever.
The 28-year-old last played for the New Orleans Saints in 2014 when he had 10 sacks and 45 tackles. The Redskins re-signed him to a $4 million, one-year deal during the offseason.
Galette has 31 ½ sacks and 128 tackles in 64 NFL games, all with the Saints.
Without Galette, the Redskins will be leaning on second-year pro Preston Smith more than they had expected. Smith had 35 tackles last season as a rookie after Washington selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Galette’s injury is more somber news for the Redskins, who on Monday announced they released Kyshoen Jarrett after the safety failed his physical. Jarrett sustained nerve damage to a shoulder in the regular-season finale against Dallas and did not participate in offseason workouts.