The Chicago Bears have been taking things slowly with rookie wide receiver Kevin White as he recovers from a shin injury, but a new report out Thursday morning suggests that things could be getting worse before they get better.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was in Bourbonnais Thursday for the Bears’ morning workout, and he is reporting that there is a possibility that White could begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list:
. @RapSheet on Kevin White: He hasn’t done any running on hard ground. He may not be back anytime soon. Real chance stays on PUP for season — Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 6, 2015
White was placed on the PUP list before the start of training camp, meaning that he has to pass a physical before he can practice with the team. He has yet to take that physical, and if he remains on the PUP list through the end of camp, it would mean that the receiver would be forced to miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season.
There are still four preseason games to be played and over a month’s worth of practices to go before the regular season begins, but Rapoport’s report still casts a shadow over the Bears’ guarded optimism about getting White onto the field sooner rather than later. We’ll have to see how it all plays out, but White’s continued struggles with injury don’t bode well for an offense that was looking forward to having him as a complementary piece to Alshon Jeffery at the receiver position.