Chicago Bears

Bears' Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) misses sixth game in contract year

Published Dec. 27, 2015 12:01 p.m. ET

foxsports

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery can't prove his value if he's not on the field. On Sunday, he was declared inactive for the Chicago Bears' Week 16 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a hamstring injury.

Via the Bears' official Twitter account:

#Bears WR Alshon Jeffery, LB Shea McClellin and DB Bryce Callahan are all INACTIVE today in Tampa due to injuries.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 27, 2015

Hampered by leg injuries all season, Jeffery has been inactive for six of Chicago's 15 games. The missed time is unfortunate for a 6-foot-3, 216-pound wide receiver who's trying to boost his stock as he nears free agency. He has 54 catches for 807 yards and four touchdowns in his nine appearances in 2015.

Jeffery, 25, has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, including a career-high 1,421 yards in 2013. This year has been plagued by injuries, so the former second-round selection will have to lean heavily on his past production if he reaches the open market next spring.