Receiver Allen Robinson II pronouncement Thursday that he has fully recovered from a torn ACL and is ready to start training camp was considered breaking news.
But Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky already knew that his new teammate was good to go after working out with Robinson Monday through Wednesday in Bourbonnais.
"He got healthy and he's starting to look like the old Allen Robinson, and it's good to see," Trubisky said. "We got to throw a couple times recently and he's getting back to his old self, just getting more and more comfortable, getting his legs underneath him, getting that speed back."
That process was accelerated this week as Robinson took advantage of an opportunity to work out with Bears quarterbacks, rookies and players rebounding from injuries a few days before the rest of their teammates reported to training camp.
"Getting back to running some routes, doing some 7-on-7 stuff, getting some team period stuff in, I've been able to accomplish a lot," Robinson said. "I think it was real good for me just to be able to knock a little bit of the rust off going against players before we actually get into the whole real grind and meat of camp."
Robinson injured his knee in last year's season opener while playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bears are hoping that the 6-3, 211-pounder can revert to the form he displayed the previous two seasons. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2015 after catching 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns and followed with 73 receptions for 883 yards and six TDs in 2016.
"He can do a lot of things really well," said coach Matt Nagy. "When we went in through this free-agency process, we talked about how he's a big, physical receiver. He's a red-zone threat. He's good versus press. He has experience. We know he has all that.
"Right now, the biggest thing that we'd like to do is have him and Mitchell just create that timing, just that connection between the two because that's going to be important."
Robinson feels good about the rapport he has built with Trubisky and understands the importance of getting a ton of reps with the quarterback in training camp.
"From just being here in the spring and being able to catch passes from him, being able to watch a ton of film with him over the past 10-11 weeks, I think we've built the necessary chemistry that we've needed," Robinson said. "It's not anything too crazy. We've just got to go out there and get some reps together, maybe some more unique routes or some stuff like that. But for the most part, everything's been cool."
Robinson is thrilled to be back healthy after sustaining an injury that changed his perspective on life and football.
"One day you're catching a pass for 17 yards and then the next day you can't walk for six weeks," he said. "You get a much greater appreciation for going out there, being around your teammates, playing in those big games. It really takes some time for you to really prioritize everything that really means a lot to you as far as a football player and just anything in general."
The Bears are confident that a healthy Robinson can emerge as a dangerous No. 1 receiver.
"He goes up, gets the football, creates separation," Trubisky said. "He can make those acrobatic catches that we haven't seen here in the past. He can separate with speed. He's physical, he runs great routes. He's really a student of the game. That's something I've learned. You can't really see that on film. But just being with him in meetings, he understands the offense, not only his job but the guys around him. As a receiver, that allows you to get open more often."
