Pace confident Jeffery will excel at tag football
BOURBONNAIS — It’s almost impossible to know Alshon Jeffery’s mood no matter what the circumstances. But general manager Ryan Pace is confident the laconic wide receiver will be a good soldier after failing to get a long-term contract in the offseason and settling for a mere $14.6 million as the Bears’ franchise player.
“I feel really good about where he’s at right now and where we’re at,” Pace said Wednesday. “I don’t think that’s going to affect him at all.”
The offseason impasse was predictable after Jeffery’s uneven 2015 season. He averaged 110 yards per game and 15.5 yards per catch in seven games when he was healthy. But he missed seven games and was less than 100 percent in two because of various injuries.
“Those negotiations were friendly the whole time,” Pace said. “I don’t think it’s uncommon when you’re negotiating off the franchise tag to sometimes not come to an agreement. But that doesn’t mean there’s any ill will.
“We can revisit it after the season. But I’m optimistic. He’s a talented player. He knows he has to stay healthy. And we’ll see going forward.”
Minuses, pluses
Besides linebacker Pernell McPhee, the Bears also put wide receiver Marquess Wilson (broken foot) and newly signed guard Amini Silatolu (recovering from ACL surgery) on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
The Bears signed former Steelers and Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin and wide receiver B.J. Daniels to bring their training-camp roster to the maximum 90.
Host pattern
The Bears will have two days of practices with the Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before their preseason game Aug. 18. Coach John Fox indicated the Bears would like to host a team in Bourbonnais in the future. Pace said the Bears likely would need a Week 2 preseason home game to make it work.
Pick to click?
Asked which of his new teammates he was most looking forward to seeing in pads, linebacker Danny Trevathan barely hesitated.
“Akiem [ Hicks],’’ Trevathan said. ‘‘I’m eager to see him in front of us. The man’s a mountain who is hard to move. He’s way quicker than I thought. And that’s my mistake, judging him [prematurely]. He’s quick, man. And he’s a beast. It’s going to be fun working with him.”
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