The fortunes of the GM Phil Emerys first draft class suffered another significant injury setback with news that wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will have arthroscopic knee surgery this week in the wake of Monday nights loss at San Francisco.
The Chicago Tribune first reported the surgery scheduled for Wednesday.
How much time Jeffery will miss is unclear but the injury is not believed to be season-ending. Players including center Roberto Garza have returned from knee scopes in as little as two weeks but the nature of physical demands at Jefferys position point to a time frame of possibly three to four weeks.
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Jeffery caught two passes in the 49ers game, giving him 16 on the season. He was emerging as a red-zone threat in particular and as an effective counterpoint to Brandon Marshall, giving the Bears two big, physical receivers in an offense that has only occasionally had even one.
The Bears were without No. 1 pick Shea McClellin on Monday after the defensive end sustained a concussion in the Houston game. Jeffery missed four games with a fractured hand at Jacksonville. No. 3 pick and safety Brandon Hardin was lost for the season with a neck injury in preseason. Tight endfullback Evan Rodriguez was down for four games with a knee strain.