All signs continue to point to Bears rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery being active for Monday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.
For the first time since breaking his right hand against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 7, Jeffery fully participated in practice on Friday.
Getting Jeffery back will definitely alleviate some of the onus on receiver Brandon Marshall, while giving quarterback Jason Campbell another big target to look for as he takes over for Jay Cutler (concussion) against the 49ers.
“It will just help period, getting a guy like that back,” Marshall said of Jeffery. “If he’s going to go or how long he’s going to go, but he’s a great talent. Whenever you have a guy like that on the field, it just opens it up for the other guys.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said Jeffery hasn’t experienced any setback since rejoining the Bears on the field this week. Jeffery, who has missed the last four games, has 14 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Coach Lovie Smith called getting Jeffery back “huge.”
“Alshon was playing great ball when he went down with the injury, when he hurt his hand,” Smith said. “Another big target. Another guy for Jason to throw to if it comes to that. Another guy with some size to block if we lean more towards the run.”
