Bears Rookie Receiver Kevin White 'Improving' In Practice
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Working with a bit of optimism to play this season, Bears rookie receiver Kevin White continues practicing at Halas Hall as he works back from a shin injury.
One week after the Bears opened a 21-day window for him to practice, White has been a consistent presence in drills. On Wednesday, White was running routes and catching passes in practice, showing positive signs for a potential return. The team now has two weeks to make a decision on whether he plays this season or is placed on IR.
Prior to training camp in Bourbonnais, White suffered a stress fracture in his shin and required surgery that inserted a rod.
"He's improving," Bears coach John Fox said. "He's on target. We got the three-week window and are just taking it one day at a time."
When asked what "on target" means, Fox simply said that White is expected to continue practicing, though he shied away from commenting on his status for the season.
Wednesday marked the first time that White had run routes and caught passes since before the injury. He admitted after practice that there's still tightness in his left leg, though showing strides in practice can be considered encouraging.
"It felt good," White said. "Maybe just a little weak, but it felt good to be back out there."
Last Tuesday, White took to the practice field for the first time since OTAs.
Make no mistake, White isn't just going through the motions in practice. While working with teammates for the 49ers, he's hoping to get on the field this season and make his NFL debut.
"Yeah, I'm pushing to play," White said. "If I wasn't pushing to play, I wouldn't be out there."
The seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, White was picked by new general manager Ryan Pace as a building block for the Bears' new direction. For this current team, he was to replace Brandon Marshall, traded in March, as a top receiver.
For White, the final step will be building enough strength to the point where he injured leg feels as comfortable as the other. For him to play this season, that feeling must be confident in the next two weeks, or else he'll be shut down.
"I hope it works out," White said last week. "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."
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.