ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Most football fans would love to watch an NFL game from the sideline. But Bears receiver Allen Robinson II is tired of that vantage point and eager to get back onto the field.
Robinson has been a spectator since tearing his ACL in last year's season opener when he played for the Jaguars. He missed Jacksonville's final 15 regular-season games and three playoff contests. And while he has since fully recovered from the injury and returned to practice, he sat out the Bears' first two preseason games, including last Thursday night's contest in Cincinnati.
"It's always tough watching, not just Thursday night [but] the past year," Robinson said. "Try watching the AFC Championship. I mean, it's been tough."
The good news for Robinson is that he will finally return to game action Saturday night when the Bears play the Broncos in a preseason contest in Denver.
"I'm excited to get back out there and play," Robinson said. "It's something I'm ready for and excited for. It's been a while. I've put the work in each and every day trying to come out here, get better and perfect my craft. I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it."
Robinson performed well in two joint practices against the Broncos this week. His most impressive catch came Thursday when he leaped high in the end zone to haul in a touchdown pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
The Bears have been cautious and patient with Robinson as he rebounds from the injury, periodically giving him days off of practice to rest his knee.
"I'm very appreciative of them for that, as far as looking out for me and my best interests," Robinson said. "Each and every day I've been able to come out here and compete at a high level and not have any setbacks or anything like that. I think it's a true testament to them as well as far as looking after me and helping me out."
Robinson signed a three-year contract with the Bears March 14 and is expected to be their No. 1 receiver. The 6-3, 211-pounder from Penn State spent his first four NFL seasons with the Jaguars, catching 202 passes for 2,848 yards and 22 touchdowns in 43 games.
Selected by Jacksonville in the second round of the 2014 draft, Robinson was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2015, recording 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. He followed with 73 catches for 883 yards and six TDs in 2016 before missing most of last season.
The Bears hit the practice field for the second time in Denver on Thursday to work against the Broncos.
![DE Jonathan Bullard, ILB Roquan Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/sflyowanevi1iatuxpsz.jpg)
DE Jonathan Bullard, ILB Roquan Smith
![RG Dejon Allen](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/jpimb9bf55cqmaxumhst.jpg)
RG Dejon Allen
![Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning, QB Mitchell Trubisky](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ovzbjxxrruebmjglf1sh.jpg)
Former Broncos QB Peyton Manning, QB Mitchell Trubisky
![RG Earl Watford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/v39zhiohuun1lz9oyrse.jpg)
RG Earl Watford
![WR Joshua Bellamy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/oop1bdnzsnaguhvjjqdi.jpg)
WR Joshua Bellamy
![WR Taylor Gabriel, WR Allen Robinson II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/off44qcfyj5oj8qodzo8.jpg)
WR Taylor Gabriel, WR Allen Robinson II
![CB Kevin Toliver II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/l1r8pufwctxywttakqqk.jpg)
CB Kevin Toliver II
![K Cody Parkey, LS Patrick Scales](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/xeaengk5bgsujxx2e6ly.jpg)
K Cody Parkey, LS Patrick Scales
![LT Charles Leno Jr.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/v9scdpfzv0h1vb6mezmh.jpg)
LT Charles Leno Jr.
![RB Jordan Howard](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/bmzhdf8td9l1egevyzun.jpg)
RB Jordan Howard
![WR Bennie Fowler III](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/lx2lctt6vh5pxqipmop9.jpg)
WR Bennie Fowler III
![ILB Danny Trevathan](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/vmlyxmguocdxmxse4xsx.jpg)
ILB Danny Trevathan
![WR Anthony Miller](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/vphf4oeprld8rjmxdhqm.jpg)
WR Anthony Miller
![NT John Jenkins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/n8otpwqqly17fvivgsgl.jpg)
NT John Jenkins
![WR Allen Robinson II](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/wvmdejkpbpdetb5ketau.jpg)
WR Allen Robinson II
![S Deon Bush](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/sefftbqyqjovdjwfzkiq.jpg)
S Deon Bush
![ILB Roquan Smith](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/reelgawut8czlubjscxy.jpg)
ILB Roquan Smith
![DE Roy Robertson-Harris](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/e5by7o0jwa9dzyuk9jkt.jpg)
DE Roy Robertson-Harris
![TE Ben Braunecker](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/qhsrsnyumchwmqxqykp4.jpg)
TE Ben Braunecker
![General manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/hrcbksy5j928inmdwyxd.jpg)
General manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy
![TE Daniel Brown](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/tzm382kxcojywmnhocfg.jpg)
TE Daniel Brown
![WR Javon Wims](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/i5aiqvky9coclwoivd5x.jpg)
WR Javon Wims
![WR Kevin White](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/wdf7nivytoo9acbluzdt.jpg)
WR Kevin White
![QB Mitchell Trubisky](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/udepii2iylt2kj60xdxd.jpg)
QB Mitchell Trubisky
![LT Matt McCants](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/otp3mtvadrk7autkeml6.jpg)
LT Matt McCants
![RG Earl Watford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ko3cugf53u6143iu9h8d.jpg)
RG Earl Watford
![Head coach Matt Nagy, former Broncos QB Peyton Manning](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/klalqnbnu6umi1i3hcia.jpg)
Head coach Matt Nagy, former Broncos QB Peyton Manning
![NT John Jenkins](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/pqb5el3cowddqny5nbmj.jpg)
NT John Jenkins
![DE Nick Williams](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/hhdlkuz7tavuv4lvcgfr.jpg)
DE Nick Williams
![OLB Kylie Fitts](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/b1d4bkmj7pmnngfwvgre.jpg)
OLB Kylie Fitts
![WR Joshua Bellamy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/iwn6hneikz7pl2fmhgqn.jpg)
WR Joshua Bellamy
![S Eddie Jackson](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/nm2yuaz4smbmrhwyuv5k.jpg)
S Eddie Jackson
![DE Roy Robertson-Harris](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/lu8au8wi6nfqxap3pkgu.jpg)
DE Roy Robertson-Harris
![WR Joshua Bellamy](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/hnpxm1q0djs2lww45ryl.jpg)
WR Joshua Bellamy
![Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, RG Earl Watford](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/t0lkbewvqskss46q4qpq.jpg)
Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, RG Earl Watford
![2018_Joint2_DEN_036](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ib1vz3f48plgo4nruuah.jpg)
![QB Mitchell Trubisky](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/mwhydcjdm2xnvllhik5z.jpg)
QB Mitchell Trubisky