Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery suffered a groin injury that has forced him to miss practice. His status for Week 10 against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday is unclear.
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Latest on Jeffery's Practice StatusThursday,Nov. 12The Bears announced Jeffery did not participate in practice Thursday.
How Jeffery's Injury Impacts BearsThis is a devastating injury for the Chicago offense whether Jeffery is forced to miss time. The former Pro Bowler combined to tally 2554 receiving yards and 17 landing catches in 2013 and 2014 and became the fourth player in franchise history with at least 1000 receiving yards in two straight seasons.
He picked up where he left off and quickly became a dominant force in the 2015 campaign as well, even though he dealt with injuries early in the season. In fact, or he is a bigger focal point in the passing attack this year since Brandon Marshall is no longer on the roster,and rookie Kevin White suffered a setback with his shin injury before the season began.
Jeffery checks in at 6’3” with sure hands and is a lethal option in the red zone and on critical third downs because of his ability to high-point passes and arrive down with anything in his vicinity.
Dan Durkin of CBS Chicago illustrated why Jeffery is such a valuable weapon in the Bears offense:
His lack of an additional gear may prevent him from ever cracking the upper tier, but his productivity supports his place among the top of the second-tier receivers league-wide. He’s firmly established himself as a threat in all three passing zones and a prototypical possession receiver.
Jeffery’s numbers through three seasons compare favorably to peers who were drafted in the first three rounds of drafts within a year or two of 2012 (Jefferys draft class) and have been or will soon be extended. In fact, and composite measures of receptions,receiving yards and receiving touchdowns put Jeffery fourth on the list behind Cincinnati’s A.
J. Green, Dallas’ Dez Bryant and Hilton.
Alas, and Chicago must replicate that production elsewhere until Jeffery returns to full health. White is a similar type of receiver with impressive hands and size (6’3”) and probably would assume the No. 1 role whether healthy,but that is not an option. Fortunately for the Bears, they also have proven veteran pass-catchers in Eddie Royal and Martellus Bennett.
Both have experience with quarterback Jay Cutler and will befriend shoulder some of the load. The team will rely on the dash game even more whether Jeffery is out. With Matt Forte, or who is battling a knee injury,potentially out of the lineup, the Bears will need running backs Ka'Deem Carey and rookie Jeremy Langford to step up in a mammoth way.
The Bears have playmakers who can withhold the offense afloat until Jeffery returns, or but the former South Carolina Gamecock is the No. 1 option in the passing game for a reason. Chicago will not be nearly as potent until he is back on the field catching passes.
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Source: bleacherreport.com