It has been a long road back to recovery from a torn ACL for Chicago Bears former Pro Bowl wide receiver Allen Robinson suffered in Week 1 of last season.

However, he has now progressed to the point where he's on pace to play in his first action since the injury in the Bears' second preseason game against the Denver Broncos, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

That will happen this week. Robinson, who has been given routine rest days during training camp, will participate in the Bears’ joint practices in Denver and will play Saturday against the Broncos. He sat out the first two preseason games.

“It’s something I’m ready for and excited for,” Robinson said Sunday.

This is a significant step forward for Robinson in his rehab being able to make his return to the field where he's expected to play a significant role in the passing game. The 24-year-old had joined the Bears earlier this offseason in free agency on three-year, $42 million deal where he has a chance to become their clear-cut No.1 receiving option.

Prior to the injury, Robinson has proven to be a highly productive player that can excel as the top receiving threat as he’s just two years removed from his breakout year where he recorded 80 catches for 1,400 receiving yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns that helped him secure his first Pro Bowl selection. This had also made first Jaguars’ receiver to compile over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season since Jimmy Smith back in 2005.

Robinson is entering a situation where he could build a long-term connection with second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky that may be the centerpiece of their passing game for the next several years. This will be the first step in that process toward building that bond on the field ahead of the 2018 campaign.