Today the fears we all wanted to believe were the irrational worries of anxious fans turned into a reality when Bears General Manager Ryan Pace announced that rookie wide receiver Kevin White would have to undergo surgery.
Bears GM Ryan Pace announces WR Kevin White will undergo surgery on shin and miss at least first 6 games.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 15, 2015
Pace, speaking to the media at a press conference this morning for what was at that time an unknown reason, seemed rattled a bit as he shared the unfortunate news. Understandably so, considering Kevin White was the seventh overall pick in this past April’s draft and the player around who Pace is building the foundation of his Bears tenure.
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White suffered a “small stress fracture to the lower part of his shin” according to Pace, an injury said to have occurred in “the later part of OTAs.” Pace went on to say that the common practice for injuries like this is to allow it to heal on its own, with the thought that often times players can avoid surgery and get back on the field simply thru rest.
The Bears had White “stay off of it for the summer months” and upon his arrival at training camp, White was believed to be symptom-free. The act of keeping him out of training camp practices (and keeping us all guessing and wondering) was part of the ramp-up process, Pace indicated. The plan was to work up his strength and conditioning gradually until fully unleashing him, likely not until the first regular season game.
May 8, 2015; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White (13) during Chicago Bears rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Best laid plans, right? Late last week White suffered a setback and in the interest of his long-term health, the Bears are having him undergo surgery. Pace indicated that White will remain on the PUP list which gives the Bears “the option of bringing him up in the later portion of the season if need be.”
Pace went on to further emphasize the idea that the biggest concern on behalf of the Bears is White’s health and his future with the team, a career that is only in its infancy now. White’s character, something that the Bears GM lauded thru the draft process, is said to be showing up now in these trying times.
The natural progression of thought after news like this is delivered causes us to arrive at an obvious question. Could he possibly miss the full year? Pace addressed that scenario as well.
Pace says it's a possibility Kevin White will miss the entire season.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 15, 2015
If the urgency for Marquess Wilson to step up and for Alshon Jeffery to return to action wasn’t significant enough already, well, now it is. The news about White had media types asking about Jeffery’s status and the word, for now, is that he’ll be ready for week one.
In the world of NFL subterfuge around player injuries, who knows what to believe? Jeffery is in a walking boot and is on crutches, but we’re told he’ll be ready to go by the regular season opener? I’m willing to buy into the propaganda for the cautious optimism it brings, but I’m preparing myself for a season that may be defined by injury before it ever starts.
Maybe that’s the doom-and-gloom approach that is characteristic of Chicago sports fans. Okay, I’ll give you that. But none of this looks or sounds promising, does it? In other news, Jay Cutler threw his first interception of training camp today… to Shea McClellin!
The sky is most definitely falling.
Next: No Kevin White? Marquess Wilson Must Step Up