Chicago Bears news: Wide receiver Kevin White being held out of OTAs

Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White is being held out of OTAs, seemingly because of an injury suffered last season.

The Chicago Bears are counting on 2015 first-round selection (seventh overall) Kevin White more than ever this season. Alshon Jeffery leaving the Bears in free agency leaves a clear void at the top of the receiver depth chart. While Cameron Meredith proved to be a consistent performer last season, White is the only receiver left on the roster with legitimate number one ability.

As you know, White has struggled mightily with injuries through the first two years of his career. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering a leg injury that never properly healed. White was able to get on the field for the first four games of 2016, showing off his immense talent and upside at the position. Unfortunately, White suffered a

White was able to get on the field for the first four games of 2016, showing off his immense talent and upside at the position. Unfortunately, White suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4 that eventually turned into a fractured fibula. That injury cost White the rest of his 2016 season.

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It is still easy to see the ridiculous upside that White brings to the table. He is a big and strong receiver who has blazing speed and fantastic jump ball skills. He is a legitimate deep threat who can also make an impact in the red zone and make plays with the ball in his hands. However, will White ever be able to stay on the field enough to make a legitimate impact for the Bears?

Well, White is not on the field with the Bears at the start of OTAs. He still appears to be sidelined from the injury suffered last season. Head coach John Fox was not willing to give up many details (shocking, I know) but White is sitting out for a reason. For a bit of good news, Fox was willing to share that White is not dealing with any new injuries.

We had been led to believe that White was healthy and ready to go for 2017. It would obviously be great to see White out there competing with his teammates and getting a rapport down with new quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky, but that is simply not the case.

The best guess here is that White is still dealing with the injury from last season. However, it is also possible that the Chicago Bears are simply playing it safe with their talented young receiver.

White is an extremely important piece of the Bears offense in 2017 and beyond. With his obvious importance to the team and history of having issues with injury, the Bears could easily just be playing it safe here. Perhaps White is healthy and Fox and company simply are not willing to take an unnecessary risk in OTAs.

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Regardless whether he is healthy enough to compete or not, White not being on the field competing is not a great sign. Hopefully, this is just a sign of the organization just being overly careful, but we will see soon enough. If White’s status is still a question in training camp, there will be a reason to worry.