Alshon Jeffery Reports To Mandatory Bears Minicamp
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) Top receiver Alshon Jeffery is back with the Bears -- as promised.
With the Bears ready to start mandatory minicamp, Jeffery has returned to Halas Hall, a source confirmed. Jeffery missed the team's voluntary workout program and OTAs to continue work in Miami with touted personal trainer David Alexander.
Jeffery's agent, Tory Dandy, stated that Jeffery wasn't in a contract dispute and he would return for mandatory work. He's followed through on that.
"I feel great to be back with my teammates, and I look forward to competing," Jeffery told the Bears' in-house media service Monday.
Jeffery was tendered the franchise tag, paying him $14.6 million in 2016. He and the Bears have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.
Since the 2015 season ended, Jeffery had returned to Chicago twice -- once for a promotional event leading up to the NFL Draft, then again to throw out the first pitch and sing the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field. Bears coach John Fox accompanied Jeffery to Wrigley Field for his appearances there.
During his time away from Halas Hall, Jeffery was working hard in a personalized program with Alexander, who's the personal trainer for LeBron James and other professional athletes.
Jeffery is looking to stay healthy in 2016 after missing seven games last season with four different soft-tissue injuries. His workout regimen in Miami is aimed at preventing those injuries.
"As of right now, I feel 100 percent confident he's going to be 100 percent when the season starts," Alexander said. "Alshon is a smart guy, and he understands what he has to do. He's doing movement patterns we taught him. I'm really confident in him.
"Alshon will be the standard. When a lot of guys are in college watching film on NFL guys, they're going to base their work ethic around him."
Jeffery is expected to be made available to the media this week at minicamp, which is open for the press beginning Tuesday.
In just 45 days, the Bears report to Bourbonnais for training camp.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
