Dec. 24--Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery did not practice Wednesday due to his lingering hamstring problem. His status for Sunday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains uncertain.
Coach John Fox said he had "no idea" if the team has considered keeping Jeffery out for the final two games of the season.
"I put that in the medical people's hands," Fox said.
Jeffery has missed five games this season, including Weeks 2 through 5 because of a left hamstring strain. His contract expires after the season, and the team continues to evaluate his value amid the mix of on-field production and recurring soft-tissue injuries.
Before Fox began his first offseason program as Bears coach last April, he expressed the importance of limiting how much soft-tissue injuries affect the team. The new regime took measures to combat them, including hiring a new strength and conditioning coach and a sports science coordinator.
On Wednesday, Fox emphasized he's pleased with the system the Bears have in place.
"I think there is good science behind it," he said. "We've got very, very qualified people. The reality is, like any other relationship, it takes time.
"All these guys are individual guys. They have individual make-ups, whether it's mental, physical or their personalities. Some guys are more apt because of their physical makeup to have those injuries than others.
"So it's not just all science or what we are doing. It's an individual, and learning what his tolerance is, what his exact weight is, what is his hydration level. There are just a lot of different things. It takes time."
