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When Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery signed his one-year, $14.6 million franchise tender, he was reportedly a near certainty to play this season on that contract. But that might not be so certain after all.

Jeffery and the Bears have continued to talk about a long-term contract, and it’s possible a deal will get done before the July 15 deadline, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

When franchise players do sign long-term deals, it usually happens right before the deadline. So in the case of Jeffery, it will probably be another three weeks before a deal gets done.

The 26-year-old Jeffery was limited by injuries to just nine games last season, but when he played he played well, catching 54 passes for 807 yards.