Frustration is high with Alshon Jeffery. The Chicago Bears might have won on Sunday without their top wide receiver on the field, but the team is getting impatient with his slow recovery. As Jeffery plays out the final year of his contract, getting on the field is important if he intends to get a nice pay day, but so far that has not happened and head coach John Fox understands that frustration is getting high with the receiver heading into Week 6.
Jeffery was not active when the Bears played the Kansas City Chiefs and he might not be when Chicago plays Detroit in Week 6. The wide receiver continues to deal with a hamstring injury that came after a calf injury in the preseason. Head coach John Fox was not offering up any kind of timetable for when the Bears might get their leading receiver back on the field, but he noted that the frustration is warranted towards Jeffery.
"Anytime players get injured, there's a frustration level," Fox said, via the Chicago Tribune. "There's a frustration level on their side, there's a frustration level on the coaches' side. The reality is it's part of the game. Faith and patience are part of everything. Back to the frustration level, it's understandable on all sides. Our medical people are doing everything in their power, as well, to get him back. We'll see what this week brings."
Jeffery has not appeared in 10 games in three-and-a-half seasons for the Bears. Will that play into his contract negotiations? According to the Chicago Tribune, when it appeared the Bears were about to sell off the roster, Jeffery was listed as untouchable while the trade talk shifted towards Matt Forte who is also playing out the final year of his contract. Jeffery will want a top-dollar contract, but he is not exactly earning it at the moment. If this injury lingers, the Bears could take a similar route to that of the Philadelphia Eagles when they gave Jeremy Maclin a one-year deal following injuries, but he then left the next free agency period. Jeffery needs to get on the field sooner rather than later.
For now the Bears are growing confident following back-to-back wins. Fox praised Jay Cutler for the way he battled back to get the last-minute win over Kansas City and they are hopeful things continue as they face the struggling Lions on Sunday. Marquess Wilson and Cameron Meredith are emerging as two strong receiving threats for the team that are helping make up for Jeffery's absence.
