It was another dose of bad news for a team that lost several players to injuries in an embarrassing 36-10 loss at Tampa Bay that left the Bears with a 2-7 record. Now, they will have to get by without arguably their best player, starting with Sunday’s game on the road against the New York Giants.

”Obviously we’re very disappointed,” coach John Fox said. ”I think he’s fairly embarrassed about it, but we’ll support him and welcome him when he gets back after serving his suspension.”

It was not clear what caused the suspension. Fox said he is ”not privy to that.”

Jeffery will be eligible to be activated on Dec. 12 and play against Green Bay six days later. He leads the team with 630 yards receiving and is second with 40 catches.

Jeffery is playing for the $14.6 million franchise tag after he and the Bears were unable to agree to a long-term contract in the offseason. He was limited to nine games because of injuries a year ago, and now has a PED suspension hanging over him with his contract set to expire again.

Fox said players found out during meetings on Monday.

”All teammates, I think, at the end of the day, they’re supportive,” Fox said. ”But I know Alshon’s embarrassed by it and I’m sure disappointed would be a good word for the rest of us.”

Fox mentioned a potential ”silver lining” with receiver Marquiss Wilson potentially returning soon from a foot injury. He has been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp. But that’s small consolation, particularly given the rash of injuries the Bears suffered against the Buccaneers.

Star right guard Kyle Long left the field on a cart with a right ankle injury. Fox indicated after the game that it might be a high ankle sprain, though he said Monday a ”full determination” on the injury had not been made.

He also had no update on running back Jordan Howard (ankle or Achilles tendon), nose tackle Eddie Goldman (ankle) or Will Sutton (ankle). Right tackle Bobby Massie also suffered a concussion.

The loss to Tampa Bay also raised more questions about the direction of the franchise and wiped out any good vibes the Bears had after they knocked off NFC North leader Minnesota two weeks earlier.

Jay Cutler threw two interceptions and fumbled twice after leading the Bears to a victory over the Vikings in his return from a sprained right thumb. It all added up to a big reality check for a team that was as confident as any with two wins halfway through the season could be.

The Bears thought they might turn the corner with key players coming back from injuries. Instead, they crashed.

”I still feel like we’re not out of it,” tight end Zach Miller said.

Mathematically, they’re not.

The Bears trail Detroit and Minnesota by three games and Green Bay by two in the division. The Vikings are struggling in a big way with four straight losses. So are the Packers, who have dropped three in a row.

But with Jeffery’s suspension, the Bears will have to get by without one of their biggest playmakers.

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Both moved from the ”show us what you’ve got” category to Pro Bowl consideration.

Here’s a road map to players who need to make the same kind of on-field statements this year – an All-Prove It Team, if you will – or could find themselves spending plenty of time away from the field.

QB-Robert Griffin III, Redskins.

Injuries, inconsistency, some strange coaching decisions by the previous regime have all plagued RG3 since his 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Is he a franchise QB?

RB-Darren McFadden, Cowboys; Joseph Randle, Cowboys.

The league’s top rusher has left Big D for Philly. That places ample pressure on McFadden, recently a disappointment in Oakland, and the inconsistent Randle to boost the running game behind the NFL’s best blocking unit.

WR-Dwayne Bowe, Browns; Tavon Austin, Rams.

Bowe never could lift the Chiefs’ aerial game beyond mediocre, and there are questions about his work ethic.

Austin can be dynamic. He hasn’t been and might not even start in St. Louis in his third pro season.

TE-Tyler Eifert, Bengals.

Cincinnati has built a nice receiving corps on the outside. Eifert needs to step up in Year 3 after an injury-ruined season.

OT-Eric Fisher, Chiefs; Andre Smith, Bengals.

The top overall selection of the 2013 draft has been just short of a flop so far. He must settle in as a starter and contributor now.

Smith is in the final year of his contract and has yet to show he is worth the big money.

OG-Richie Incognito, Bills; Jonathan Cooper, Cardinals.

Incognito gets his last chance after the bullying scandal. If he can’t play for Rex Ryan in Buffalo, forget it.

Cooper was the seventh overall selection in 2013 and was hurt all season. He played in 14 games last year, now he has to show his worth.

C-Gino Gradkowski, Broncos.

This one is simple: Gradkowski is snapping to the most demanding of quarterbacks. Step up or step out.

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DE-Michael Johnson, Bengals; Adrian Clayborn, Falcons.

Johnson was a bust in his only season in Tampa after signing a huge contract. He’s back where he established himself and must do so again.

Clayborn had two productive seasons with the Bucs, two injury-ravaged ones. Atlanta desperately needs him to come through as pass rusher.

DT-Sylvester Williams, Broncos; B.J. Raji, Packers.

Williams moves in to replace departed Terrance Knighton, a force on Denver’s D-line. Does Williams bring more pot roast, or a cheaper grade of beef?

Raji missed 2014 with a right biceps injury. He played five physical years in the trenches before last season and must prove he has something left.

OLB-Quinton Coples, Jets; Sean Lee, Cowboys.

There might not even be a starting job for the Jets’ top selection of 2012 under new coach Todd Bowles. He needs to be more active, more versatile.

Injuries have stymied a Pro Bowl-caliber career for the leader of the Dallas defense. He returns from a wrecked knee that cost him all of 2014.

ILB-Dannell Ellerbe, Saints; Manti Te’o, Chargers.

Parlaying his big postseason in 2012 with the champion Ravens into a huge payoff in Miami didn’t work. He was mediocre, then injured. Now what in the Big Easy?

Te’o was a game changer in college. He’s been average and injury prone in the NFL.

CB-Dre Kirkpatrick, Bengals; D.J. Hayden, Raiders.

Terence Newman has left Cincinnati. Kirkpatrick, a 2012 first-rounder, improved his game a bit through the last two seasons. Time for a big move.

Hayden was a risky high pick in 2013 after a near-fatal injury. Oakland has some defensive talent in front of him, so he needs to come through.

S-Matt Elam, Ravens; Chris Conte, Buccaneers.

Elam is another first-rounder (2012) on this squad. He lost his starting position last season, so he’s in prove-it territory.

Conte played plenty for four years on a Bears defense that didn’t scare anyone. Now he goes to a Bucs D that doesn’t scare anyone.

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