For the first time in five years, the Bears are expected to open training camp without any of their players on the physical-unable-to-perform list.
"We should be good to go," coach Matt Nagy said Thursday at his camp-opening press conference in Bourbonnais. "There shouldn't be anybody on 'PUP,' and that's a good thing for us. We're going through physicals, but as of right now, we feel really good where we're at."
Guard Kyle Long , receiver Allen Robinson II and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd were limited during the offseason while recovering from injuries. But all three are expected to practice without restrictions beginning Friday when the Bears conduct their first camp workout. The first practice open to the public is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m. Saturday.
"They'll be full speed, good to go," Nagy said. "You go back to OTAs and the reason we [were cautious with them] was so they'd be ready to go now. Now it's go time."
The Bears have opened training camp with players on the PUP list each of the last four years: Long in 2014, Kevin White in 2015, Pernell McPhee and Marquess Wilson in 2016 and Long and Zach Miller in 2017.
Robinson tore his ACL in last year's season opener while playing for the Jaguars. The prized free-agent acquisition returned to practice on a limited basis late in the offseason and expects to be unlimited in training camp.
"I feel great," said Robinson, who signed with the Bears in March after spending his first four seasons in Jacksonville. "It's a process that we've taken a little bit slower, but I think that was for the best. It just was all about getting me ready for this time right here, so I feel great. I feel 100 percent and I'm ready to go."
That's great news for the Bears, who hope that Robinson can revert to his pre-injury form. The 6-3, 211-pounder was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2015 after catching 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns before following with 73 receptions for 883 yards and six TDs in 2016.
"I think when you have that type of injury, a lot of it does come down to the mentality of, 'Are you OK, are you 100 percent?''" Nagy said. "We'll know that right away when he gets out here [and] you throw the pads on.
"He's done everything he can possibly do to this point to get to where he's at. He's rehabbed really hard to get to this point and now he's here. So mentally, he's in a good spot. Physically, he's in a good spot. We've just got to put it together now. The other thing with that now is he needs to start building that relationship with Mitch. That's a big part, too."
Floyd missed the final six games last season with sprained knee ligaments. But he had fully recovered from the injury in time to participate in the Bears' minicamp without restrictions the first week of June.
The 2016 first-round draft pick has shown promise in two seasons with the Bears, recording a total of 11.5 sacks. But he has missed 10 of 32 games due to injuries and must remain healthy to reach his high ceiling.
"One of the traits we look for in players is durability and availability," said general manager Ryan Pace. "Leonard is a very talented player with a lot of natural pass rush ability. But in order for him to reach that production, he needs to be on the field. I know he's worked a lot on his body. He's worked a lot on his techniques. We just feel that if he can stay healthy, the production's going to be there."
