Bears receiver Allen Robinson II says he's past the ankle injury that sidelined him last week.
"It was just a bang-bang play in practice," Robinson said Tuesday. "I had caught, I forget what route, but I had caught it, and somebody came down on my ankle. But throughout the week, just rehabbing and getting the swelling down and stuff like that, and I feel great."
Robinson's recovery is good news for the Bears offense, as it looks to build continuity while navigating a quarterback competition and the lack of preseason games. Robinson believes that the offense will be more versatile this season, citing the development of running back David Montgomery and the addition of rookie tight end Cole Kmet and receiver Darnell Mooney, along with the arrival of veteran tight end Jimmy Graham.
"We've got a lot of people who can do a lot of things," said Robinson. "For us, that's what really makes us versatile in each and every situation, so I think across the board, where our playmakers are at, I definitely like where we're at a lot."
Robinson has been a favorite target of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky since the receiver arrived in Chicago in 2018. The 6-2, 220-pounder has caught 153 passes for 1,901 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Bears.
With Trubisky now fighting for the starting job with Nick Foles, Robinson expressed respect for both quarterbacks. Robinson believes it's his responsibility to make the eventual winner look good when the Bears open the season in Detroit on Sept. 13.
"I think both quarterbacks are pretty vocal leaders," said Robinson. "They've stepped up and taken the challenges each time they're in the huddle to lead us. I think from a playmaking group, speaking for all the playmakers, that's all you can ask for. All we can do is go out there each and every day and try to make plays for these guys. That's most important."
While Robinson was working his way back from injury, a number of his teammates weighed in on the shooting of Jacob Blake in nearby Kenosha, Wis., culminating in the cancellation of practice last Thursday. As a team leader, Robinson discussed his obligation to use his platform.
"It can't just be when something happens," said Robinson. "It has to be on a regular basis. People putting their biases to the side and just one group of people coming together, because, at the end of the day, that's what it's about. That's the only way that change is gonna happen. So I think for us as a team, as a league, I've seen other leagues across the board do it. I think everybody's trying to take as much initiative as they can to try to create change."
Robinson has seen positive and negative reactions to his stances on social media, but he ignores them for the most part. Winning an internet popularity contest is not a short- or long-term goal for him.
"Controlling what we can," said Robinson, "that's using our voice and our platform to be able to say the things that we think is important. I think, for myself, I'm not super concerned or care about any negative things that come from that. That's not where my head is at. My head is, 'How can I continue to drive this message forward and continue for this message to be long-lasting, not short-lived?'"
