After telling a few reporters earlier Thursday he had torn cartilage, the Chicago Bears' record-setting return specialist backtracked and said his ribs are simply bruised. Either way, he hopes to play against Tampa Bay on Sunday.

He remains a game-time decision after missing his second straight practice Thursday, but he seemed relieved that tests earlier in the week did not reveal a more serious problem.

"It's a lot better," Hester said after practice. "It's improved a lot, and I'm feeling a lot better."

Hester was taken from the sideline on a cart during the third quarter of last week's 20-17 loss at Carolina.

Hester said he first felt some pain earlier in the game when he landed on another player while being tackled and aggravated it on a kickoff return following a 45-yard field goal by Carolina's John Kasay. The Bears were leading 17-6 when Hester caught the ball a yard into the end zone and sprinted to the 15, where he felt a "real sharp pain" as he twisted to his left before heading out of bounds at the 23.

Hester was still in motion when Julius Peppers, trying to slow him down, extended his right arm and was seen about a second later clutching the left side of his rib cage. He walked over to the Chicago sideline and was carted away with what he thought was a more serious injury.

Instead, he was "very relieved" by the results of an MRI on Tuesday.

"It wasn't what I expected," he said. "I was expecting something (worse) than what it was. But it came out pretty good."

If he can't play, Danieal Manning will have a bigger role on kickoff returns, with Nathan Vasher returning punts.