The Facts: Jeffery has not been present at the club's voluntary offseason workout program that kicked off Apr. 18, a league source said on Monday. Jeffery is expected to return to Halas Hall for the Bears' mandatory veteran minicamp that runs June 14-16, if not sooner, per the source.
Diehards Line:
Jeffery’s absence was not unexpected. Jeffery is scheduled to play under the franchise tag next season. The wideout signed his tender -- worth $14.599 million -- in early March. The sides have until July 15 to agree to terms on a long-term contract. The former Pro Bowl receiver informed the team ahead of time he intended to train at a complex in South Florida, according to ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson. Jeffery is determined to fix the soft tissue injuries that forced him to miss seven games in 2015. When healthy, Jeffery is one of the Bears' top players on offense, catching 54 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns last season. He tied a franchise record with three straight 100-yard receiving games, against Detroit, Minnesota and San Diego. Jeffery's upside makes it easier for fantasy football owners to be injury agnostic when drafting him.