LAKE FOREST, Ill. — With the Chicago defense trying to contain Atlanta’s third-ranked offense, and the offense struggling to put points on the board in the second half, the last thing the Bears need are breakdowns on special teams.

Yet the possibility those could occur are greater than ever this week in Atlanta because of the pressure being brought to bear against Chicago’s coverage units by their former return man, Devin Hester.

“He puts a lot of pressure on you as a kicker,” Bears kicker Robbie Gould said. “You talk about having opportunities to play against a great player, you’ve got to step up and play great.

“And we can’t hit every ball out of the back of the end zone. It’s honestly just not possible, especially if you hit a ball 3.7 (seconds hang time) out of the back of the end zone for him — or close to the back of the end zone — he’s aggressive right now taking it out because he’s doing a great job for them.”

Gould had a sideline argument with Hester last year in Hester’s final season with the Bears, and now he and punter Pat O’Donnell will be forced to contend with the player the Bears have always acknowledged as the greatest return man of all time.

“Devin, I’m comin’ buddy, I’m ready,” Gould said. “He knows my tendencies. But I’ve got a good game plan ready for him.”

The two made up after their sideline disagreement, so there is no real grudge match here beyond the player wants to make his former team regret giving up on him. And there’s plenty of that expected.

“I’ve been other places and played that first team that you have gone against and you want to do well,” Bears special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillas said. “And I’m sure he’s gonna be the same way. It’s no different for any player or any coach.

“They’re gonna want to show out. They’re gonna want to make sure that they know and you know how important they were. So we’re gonna have to bring our A game for sure.”

Bears special teams haven’t exactly been on their A game in recent weeks. Gould missed a chip shot field goal attempt last week. They allowed Panthers punt returner Philly Brown to pick up a ball he fumbled on an early hit by Bears coverage man Teddy Williams and scamper down the sideline 79 yards for a touchdown last week. They also committed a penalty that wiped out a long Santonio Holmes return last week.

It has been difficult for the Bears on special teams with so many injuries to starters early that require regular special teams players to move into the regular lineup and give up their special teams roles. It has been filled largely with inexperience, or in many cases from players they just picked up off the street, like Williams last week.

The Bears rank 25th limiting punt returners, although they are a solid seventh limiting kick return yardage thanks largely to long kicks and some good hang time by Gould.

One other positive has been Pat O’Donnell’s punts. His 52-yard average last week with good hang time was his best game. He’ll need to do more than kick long and high this week.

“Directional kicking is something that we have to be able to do, and I think Pat really did a terrific job with it last week,” coach Marc Trestman said. “But part of that is doing it the right way.

“Each and every week is different. The thing we have going for us this week — we’re in the dome. Wind won’t be an issue. We’ve got a chance to even have tighter direction.”

The Bears have more to worry about from Hester than just returns.

“He’s returning kicks, he’s taking bubble screens and taking reverses, stuff like that,” linebacker Lance Briggs said. “They’re finding different ways, creative ways to get him the ball.

“A lot of the same things we were doing here for many years.”

The Bears rarely did use Hester effectively on offense — or he rarely fit in with what they were doing. The debate still rages on in Chicago after his departure. It’s fairly obvious he can fit in Atlanta’s offense between dangerous receiving threats Roddy White and Julio Jones and make big plays.

“He’s dangerous in a crowd,” Briggs said. “Devin is — we all know — we’ve all seen years of Devin. He’s a special player and we’ve got to wrap him up.

“There are a lot of plays where Devin can create, but some of those same plays he can also hurt himself and lose a lot of yards, too. But when you watch tape, you see him when he makes his moves and cuts, it’s always up field right now, so he’s been a great addition to their team.”

Another former Bear, Eric Weems, has returned to his original team in Atlanta and also making an impact in coverage and the return game. But the real threat is Hester.

When the Bears saw this game on their schedule, they knew facing Hester could be a dreaded moment just like facing former coach Lovie Smith could be later in the year.

At 2-3, with games coming up against Miami, New England and Green Bay, they know another slip-up could send their season in a direction where they’re playing catch-up the entire second half of the schedule.

NOTES: C Roberto Garza went through a full practice Wednesday after a Week 1 ankle sprain and appears headed for a return to the lineup. … Among those missing practice Wednesday were LT Jermon Bushrod (ankle, knee), S Ahmad Dixon (hamstring), G/T Taylor Boggs (hamstring), RB Matt Forte (coach’s decision) and LBs Lance Briggs (ribs), D.J. Williams (neck), Jonathan Bostic (back) and Shea MClellin (broken hand). Limited in practice were DT Jeremiah Ratliff (concussion) and S Chris Conte (concussion). S Shamiel Gary signed a one-year deal. … CB Al Louis-Jean was elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. … DE David Bass and CB Isaiah Frey were waived.