After Allen Robinson had burst on the scene with 153 catches, 2,283 yards and 20 touchdowns during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars finally surrounded their talented wide receiver with an equally talented roster.
But on just the third play of the 2017 season, Robinson tore his ACL, ending his season. The Jaguars went on to the AFC Championship Game -- falling just short of Super Bowl LII -- without him.
"To not be there for my team was definitely difficult," Robinson told ThePostGame.
That has made being part of a playoff-bound season for the NFC North champion Chicago Bears all the more rewarding.
It hasn't been without adversity, though, for the Bears' offseason acquisition. After an arduous rehab, Robinson had to adjust to a new team and quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky. Developing a rapport for the No. 1 wide receiver was made more difficult after Robinson missed two games with a groin injury, and then Trubisky missed two with an injured shoulder.
"Being able to really overcome that," Robinson said, "that's big for this team."
Overcoming adversity is a cause Robinson has taken to heart. His Within Reach Foundation is on a mission to provide resources -- particularly educational ones -- to low-income students. Within Reach was also the charity he chose for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats campaign.
In early December Robinson led Operation Elf, a holiday shopping experience for about 40 kids from the Linda and Bill Gantz Boys & Girls Club. Each kid received a $150 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card. Robinson shopped with them, signed autographs and hung out with them, even offering tips on how to use the sports equipment.
"It makes me feel awesome," Robinson said. "It's just as much impactful for me as it is for them."
One week later, Robinson held his Evening Within Reach fundraising event at The Montgomery Club, a swank venue in the River North section of Chicago, featuring a cocktail reception, catered entrees and auction. Several Bears, including cornerback Kyle Fuller, safety Adrian Amos and wide receiver Kevin White, attended.
Proceeds went toward elementary school reading rooms that provide students access to hundreds of books and a comfortable reading space.
"I wanted to have a positive impact in the community," Robinson said. "The biggest way to do that is helping some of the other younger kids and really especially through education."
This is the third year of his foundation, which he started in Jacksonville.
Robinson has quickly acclimated to his new Chicago environs.
Helping with the transition is the fact that his Bears ties run deep. Robinson roomed with Amos at Penn State, played alongside tight end Dion Sims at St. Mary's Preparatory outside Detroit, trained with tight end Trey Burton after college and knew cornerback Prince Amukamara from their Jaguars days.
"It's been very seamless," Robinson said. "I had a pretty good rapport with a lot of guys coming in here."
Robinson has embraced the sports fanaticism of the Windy City.
"I love it," he said. "This is a sports town."
In February he posted a picture of himself on Instagram wearing a Cubs jersey:
The following month, he tweeted a picture of himself wearing a Bulls jersey:
What’s good Chicago!!!? pic.twitter.com/DY11dfKxO1
— Allen Robinson II (@AllenRobinson) March 13, 2018
He has taken in the local cuisine as well. Robinson cited Lou Malnati's as his favorite deep dish pizza after the famous pizzeria let him make a pie there.
On the field, the 6-3, 211-pounder provides Chicago's developing, second-year quarterback with a large target. Bears head coach Matt Nagy has called Robinson a security blanket for Trubisky.
"You can put the ball in his area," Nagy said. "And he's either going to get a PI or come down with the football."
Despite his large frame, Robinson is explosive. And if defenders play off him instead of press cover him, he's dangerous on slant routes.
"He just knows how to use his body and run great routes that create separation," Trubisky said. "When the ball's in the air, it's 12's ball."
Robinson's signature play was a David Tyree-like, 30-yard helmet catch against New York Giants cornerback B.W. Webb in Week 13.
Having signed Robinson to a three-year deal worth $42 million, the Bears envision the Trubisky-to-Robinson combination as one that will pay dividends into the future. Robinson has praised the moxie of Chicago's quarterback.
"For him being a younger guy, I would say he has a very good demeanor," Robinson said. "Whether we're up, whether we're down, no matter what the situation is, he's always calm. He's always leading us."
This year Trubisky has helped lead Chicago to the playoffs -- a great gift for Bears fans. But it's not the only one Robinson is helping provide to those in Chicago this season.
"Whenever I can continue to give, whether that's Thanksgiving, Christmas," Robinson said, "I try to do that."
-- Follow Jeff Fedotin on Twitter @JFedotin.
