BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- A serious calf injury kept Alshon Jeffery out of commission for the entire 2015 preseason.

Jay Cutler does not want to see history repeat itself.

As Jeffery slowly returns from a minor hamstring strain, the quarterback thinks it’s important for the Bears’ No. 1 receiver to play in exhibition games.

“I think it’s going to be important for him to get a few reps out there, just to get used to football,” Cutler said Monday. “He’s been kind of on and off at camp, so just getting three games, four games in or just getting some reps, just getting his conditioning, will help him get ready to play football. Get some soreness and work through that, I think that would be good for him.”

Before suffering a minor hamstring strain last week, Ashlon Jeffery was doing what quarterback Jay Cutler is eager to see him do at training camp again soon: catch passes. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Last year, Jeffery suffered a calf strain in a closed walk-through practice that forced him to miss all four of the Bears’ preseason contests. He returned to the lineup in Week 1, but wound up battling injuries throughout the year, and finished with 54 receptions for 807 yards and four touchdowns.

Following the Bears’ decision to apply the franchise tag, Jeffery stayed away from the team’s voluntary offseason workout program. He reported to camp in good shape but tweaked his hamstring Aug. 3.

On Monday, Jeffery did dress in full pads but worked exclusively on a side field. Jeffery is not expected to be active for Chicago's preseason debut Thursday night against the Denver Broncos, but his ultra-limited participation Monday is a sign the wideout’s health is improving.

The same cannot necessarily be said for outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who has not practiced a single time in 2016 since undergoing an offseason knee procedure.

Head coach John Fox said McPhee’s playing weight is not an issue, but added there is no way of knowing how much practice time the veteran pass-rusher needs to be ready for the regular season opener in Houston.

“I don’t know the answer to it,” Fox said. "We can’t practice him until he gets healthy, and I can’t predict when he’s going to be healthy.

“His weight’s fine. He’s done a great job with his weight. A lot more was made out of that than it should have been. He’s got a hurt knee is why he’s not out there, not because he weighs a certain weight.”

McPhee finished third on the Bears in sacks (six) and tied for second in tackles for loss (10) in 14 games last year.