Listen to Chicago Bears veteran wide receiver and kick returner Devin Duvernay talk, and it is clear just what kind of challenge his current team faces against his former one, the Baltimore Ravens, and two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson in Week 8.
Duvernay began his NFL career as a third-round pick with the Ravens, selected with the 92nd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Nearly two full years after his last regular-season snap as a Raven, Duvernay reflected fondly.
Devin Duvernay Talks Return to Baltimore, Lamar Jackson & More Before Bears-Ravens
Bears’ Devin Duvernay ‘Super Excited’ for Return to Baltimore
This week, with the Bears in Baltimore to face the 1-5 Ravens, Duvernay will be facing his former team for the first time since his departure in 2024.
Duvernay joined a Ravens team with Jackson in his third season, coming off the first of his two MVP campaigns. Injuries derailed Duvernay’s final campaign with the Ravens in 2023, when Jackson won his second MVP.
Duvernay knows his defensive teammates cannot take even an injury-hampered Jackson lightly.
“A playmaker for sure,” Duvernay told Clocker Sports on Friday. “A playmaker, two-time MVP. No question about it, and just have to be ready for whatever.”
Duvernay spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, earning Pro Bowl trips as a return specialist in 2021, when he was also a First Team All-Pro, and 2022. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency in 2024.
There, Duvernay played under Bears passing game coordinator Press Taylor.
Jackson missed the Ravens’ last two games with a hamstring injury, but upgraded to a full practice and is expected to play against the Bears. The veteran passer has thrown for 869 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 1 interception this season, adding another 166 yards and 1 TD on 21 carries.
Devin Duvernay Reflects Fondly on Ravens Tenure
As for his return to the first home he ever knew after being drafted into the league, Duvernay, a Texas native and former Longhorns star, told Clocker Sports, “I’m super excited. It’s where I started my career. Had a lot of success, had a lot of fun. Oh, yeah, no. I’m excited.”
The memories are plentiful.
“What do I remember most? Man, probably a lot of the relationships [with] players, staff,” Duvernay began. “A lot of the game days, and the people that I’ve met. And then, obviously, the coaches there kind of helped shape me, and mold me, and taught me how to be a pro. Taught me how to play in this league. That’s probably what comes to my memory the most.
“It was a stepping stone, kind of. Where I learned, like I said, kind of, learned how to be a pro. And I’ve taken that with me throughout the rest of my career.”
Bears Return Game ‘Super Close’ to Breaking Big Play
Duvernay ranks ninth among qualifiers with 11.0 yards per punt return following “Thursday Night Football” in Week 8, which is just above the league average of 10.8 YPR. Last season, the Bears’ primary return man, DeAndre Carter, ranked 39th at 9.3 YPR.
Trent Taylor ranked 40th at 8.2 yards per return in 2023. Dante Pettis was 28th at 9.1 YPR. So, Duvernay is tracking to be the best returner Bears general manager Ryan Poles has added.
Duvernay believes the Bears are “super close” to popping a big play in the return game.
“What’s the ingredient? I would say, just for us, just staying on the details,” Duvernay told Clocker Sports. “Because we’re super close. We’re super close. You watch the film on Monday, and you’re like, ‘God, we’re one block away, one cut away, whatever the case may be. We’re super close, and I think we’re all faithful. We love the plan. We love the plans every week. And I would say, just staying with it and staying patient. Not getting frustrated or trying to force anything. Just play the game. It’s gonna come. Because like I said, we’re close.”
The Bears rank 11th in YPR on punts, but they are 12th in kick returns, though rookie second-round pick Luther Burden III has shared some of those duties. Still, Duvernay is correct in that the Bears are not far off. Perhaps they can break a big return, and perhaps even score, against the Ravens in Week 8.