The Chicago Bears have placed star wide receiver Alshon Jeffery on injured reserve after a disappointing season, according to the Bears' team Twitter account. Jeffery missed Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and with the move to injured reserve, he will have missed a total of seven games on the year.
The Bears expected big things from Jeffery this season, as they traded star wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets this offseason for a fifth round draft pick. That move has clearly not worked out, and based on the success Marshall is having in New York, many may be second guessing the Bears front office after that decision.
Chicago spent their first-round draft pick on wide receiver Kevin White, but he never suited up for a game due to a stress fracture in his shin that he suffered during OTA workouts in June. The Bears are 6-9 on the year but could lose their top wide out, as Jeffery's rookie contract is set to expire at the end of this season. The Bears will have to decide whether to sign Jeffery to a long-term deal or use the franchise tag on him.
The 6-foot-3, 216-pound wide receiver is clearly a talent that multiple teams would be interested in, but injuries could impact the amount of money teams are willing to spend on him. Jeffery had back-to-back plus 1,100 yard receiving seasons, but he was unable to get back there and only recorded four touchdown during the 2015 season. Many changes may be in store for the Bears this offseason, and the team will have to make a decision as to whether they believe Jeffery can be a long-term solution for them.
