Devin Hester likely returning Sunday

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- What appeared to be a minor ankle injury on Friday sidelined Chicago Bears receiver Devin Hester on Saturday for the club's first workout in full pads, but coach Lovie Smith doesn't expect the issue to linger.

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"Devin Hester missed tonight; a little ankle injury," Smith said. "He should be good to go tomorrow."

Hester dressed in orange shorts and a jersey and didn't participate in workouts, while the rest of his teammates donned full gear for Saturday's session in front of 12,000 fans at Olivet Nazarene University.

When Hester initially suffered the injury, he indicated it wouldn't force him to miss time.

"We're gonna have accidents like that," Hester said Friday just minutes after suffering the injury. "If you don't expect accidents, then you shouldn't play football. It's just the nature of the beast. There are gonna be accidents, even if we're playing touch."

Hester sustained the injury from landing awkwardly after a collision with safety Major Wright as the two fought for a deep pass Friday during team drills.

Hester sat on the ground for a few minutes after the collision, as athletic trainers tended to the receiver, who said he wasn't seriously injured on the play.

Hester said his ankle was tweaked "just a little bit on the play, nothing major."

"I've got to go in and watch film. I really don't know (what happened on the play)," Hester said. "I just know (we) kind of collided; both going for the ball. That's just something that happens in football period."

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Michael C. Wright | email

Chicago Bears beat reporter

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Wright joined ESPNChicago in April 2010 after spending the previous four seasons covering the Jaguars. He also covered the Redskins for two seasons. A native Texan, Wright was a four-year football letterman at West Texas A&M University.