Bears reaction: Is Alshon Jeffery the NFL's best rookie wide receiver?

Before breaking his hand against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5, Bears rookie wide receiver Alshon Jeffery was having a solid season. Through the first five games of 2012, Jeffery compiled 13 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Those stats have Bears fans thinking the South Carolina product may be the NFL's best rookie receiver this season.

As Dave Gilbert, writer for SB Nation's Bears site, Windy City Gridiron, points out, Jeffery's stats are as good or better than the six wide receivers chosen ahead of him at the 2012 NFL Draft:

Now, they say that receivers only really come into their own once they enter their third year in the league, so I wouldn't be worrying too much about these players. But the Bears can feel more than happy that Jeffery has stepped in and secured himself as the number two receiver on the team.

Of the receivers chosen ahead of Jeffery in this year's draft, only Tennessee Titan Kendall Wright has more catches or yards -- 27, 214 -- but Jeffery's average yards per catch is much better -- 13.1 to 7.9. Justin Blackmon, the No. 5 pick in the draft, has 13 catches for 119 yards and zero touchdowns for the Jaguars this season.

The Bears are off this week. Chicago returns to action Sunday, Oct. 22 for a Sunday-night home game against the Detroit Lions.