Bears' Kevin White: 'I'm Not Closing The Door On Anything'
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Bears rookie receiver Kevin White will partake in a three-week practice window in conjunction with his place on the physically-unable-to-perform list. The Bears now have 21 days to either move him to the active roster or injured reserve.
White hasn't practiced with the Bears since OTAs. He had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin in August and was placed on the PUP list. Since then, White has worked on rehabilitation at Halas Hall, even at times doing light running off to the side of practice.
"I hope it works out," White said. "I'm rolling with the punches. Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst.
"There's a chance (of playing). I'm not closing the door on anything."
A seventh overall pick out of West Virginia, White was the first draft selection for Bears general manager Ryan Pace. Initially, he was ruled day-to-day with shin splints during the beginning of training camp. However, further tests confirmed that he had a stress fracture, which required surgery.
On Tuesday, White was active during the portion of practice open to media, a positive step by all accounts. However, he admitted that there's still discomfort in his leg.
Bears coach John Fox was encouraged to see White on the field, but approached it with a sense of reality.
"He's not ready to play this minute," Fox said.
Fox also admitted that a decision on White won't be factored based on the Bears' playoff position.
All eyes were on White during the Bears' practice on Tuesday. The rookie receiver could perhaps make a return this season and provide a boost to the offense. Yet, going through the rehab, White is being cautious.
"All I can do is train hard every day, listen to the coaching staff, the training staff," he said. "I'm taking it one day at a time."
