Alshon Jeffery Reports to Chicago Bears Minicamp

Alshon Jeffery has reported to Halas Hall for mandatory minicamp which opens Tuesday in suburban Chicago.

Chicago Bears fans can breathe a sigh of relief. There will be no holdout from star wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, as he reported Monday to mandatory minicamp that gets underway Tuesday.

Jeffery made a bit of a mild stir when he failed to report to any of the Bears OTAs over the past few weeks. Those organized team activities are optional and Jeffery was under no obligation to go (although almost all veterans do attend). Jeffery is still negotiating with the Bears on a long-term contract so it was no surprise that he did not show. Almost every veteran player seeking a contract extension skips OTAs, some skip the mandatory minicamps, while others choose to go.

Jeffery is choosing the latter, which is a good sign for Bears fans. Jeffery has signed his franchise tag tender, so if he fails to receive a contract extension from Chicago he will play the season on a one year, $14.4 million contract. With Jeffery’s decision to report to minicamp, that almost certainly guarantees that even without an extension, he will play this season on the one year franchise tender and it does not appear that he will hold out of training camp either.

Jeffery is a good soldier and even if he doesn’t receive the contract he’s hoping for, he isn’t going to leave his teammates high and dry and will play under the agreement that the NFLPA collective bargained with the league.

Whether Jeffery receives a long term deal from Chicago is still a major question (and one that seems more and more unlikely this offseason), but Bears fans can relax to a degree knowing Jeffery will be suiting up on Sundays in 2016 without making life difficult on the Bears’ front office or coaching staff.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.