Dec. 17--In six career games against the Vikings, Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery has averaged 6.5 catches and 100.3 yards with four total touchdowns. Seven weeks ago in a 23-20 loss at Soldier Field, Jeffery's 10-catch, 116-yard outing included a 21-yard touchdown grab from Jay Cutler at the end of the first half.
Vikings safety Harrison Smith has admired Jeffery's ability to make contested catches and offered insight into what makes the 25-year-old receiver difficult to defend.
"When he's covered, he can still make the play on the ball. Just because he's so physical," Smith said Wednesday from Minnesota, where the Bears will meet the Vikings on Sunday. "I don't want to say he pushes off illegally. But he's good at pushing off and creating separation in an appropriate way. ... And Cutler has a lot of faith in him winning 1-on-1 matchups."
Smith made it clear his assessment of Jeffery's skills was not a sour grapes complaint but rather a nod of admiration.
"The game should be physical," Smith said. "That's how it was meant to be played. his game and he's good at it. And it's within the rules."
Crystal clear: A day after the Bears officially passed on their last chance to activate Kevin White to the 53-man roster, coach John Fox asserted the rookie receiver has been a consummate pro behind the scenes, attacking his recovery since August surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left leg.
"Kevin has done everything in his power to play for us this year," Fox said.
The Bears have known for some time that White's leg wouldn't be strong enough for him to play this season. And rather than use a roster spot for White to continue practicing, the Bears left White on the physically-unable-to-perform list, believing his side work with trainers and strength and conditioning coaches would be similar to what he had been doing the previous three weeks in practice.
Just for kicks: Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers won't over-think the struggles of Robbie Gould, who has missed his last three field goal attempts, including two in crunch time during a two-game losing streak. Rodgers said Gould had a solid day against the Redskins on kickoffs and extra points before missing a game-tying 50-yard field goal late.
And while Rodgers pushes to keep Gould in a comfort zone with reliable protection and a sound snap-hold operation, he won't become overly involved in addressing Gould's current slump.
"Robbie is such a stud when it comes to being a student of the game," Rodgers said. "He knows his tape. He knows his history. He knows the things he has to go back to fundamentally."
Injury update: After missing Sunday's game with a knee injury, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee was back at practice Wednesday in a limited capacity. Also limited were Jeffery (calf), Will Sutton (knee) and Tracy Porter (ankle). Bryce Callahan (quadriceps), Sherrick McManis (concussion) and Zach Miller (illness) all sat out.
McGrane passes away: Bill McGrane, who served two stints as the organization's director of administration and arrived in 1975 with Hall of Fame general manager Jim Finks, died Tuesday at 82.
A Glencoe resident, McGrane worked for the Bears from 1975 through 1989 and again from 1998 through 2003.
Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs contributed.
dwiederer@tripub.com
