Sep 21st 2008 11:58AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Buccaneers, NFL InjuriesThe Chicago Bears will be without their most exciting player when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.

Wide receiver and kick returner Devin Hester is inactive for today’s game after injuring cartilage in his rib cage during last week’s loss to the Carolina Panthers. Hester’s status has been up in the air all week, but this morning it was determined that he won’t be able to go.

Hester won’t be missed much on offense, where he’s been a non-factor this season — except that the offense won’t get the field position boost it usually gets from opponents knowing that they either have to kick short against Hester or allow the best return man in the game to get his hands on the ball.

This will be the first game Hester has missed in his career, and all in all, you’d have to say Hester’s third season is off to a disappointing start.