Chicago Bears: How the future looks for Kevin White
Chicago Bears’ third-year wide receiver Kevin White suffers yet another season-ending injury, but what does this mean for White and Chicago moving forward?
Sunday afternoon, one of Chicago Bears fan’s worst nightmares came true. Not only did Kevin White get injured, but it’s expected that White will be out for the remainder of the 2017-2018 season. Reports confirmed that White fractured his shoulder blade, and the Bears placed him on IR this afternoon.
Unfortunately for White and the Chicago Bears, this is the third year in a row in White’s three year career that he will miss extended time due to injury. This begs the question, what does the future have in store for both sides?
White’s future
In the third year of his rookie contract, White is most likely no longer going to get a chance this season to show Chicago how he can produce. Next year is the last season of White’s four-year rookie deal. Unfortunately, this limited opportunity doesn’t bode well for the remainder of White’s professional career.
Depending on how White plays in his contract year next season, he could easily see himself out of the league.
White has now only played in five games in his three year NFL career and is evidently injury prone. Unless White can prove to NFL general managers why he was drafted seventh overall in 2015 next season, it’s doubtful that Chicago or any other NFL team will offer him a contract.
Not only has White been injury prone, but he hasn’t been effective in the time he’s actually been on the field either. Before he got injured Sunday afternoon, White only recorded two receptions for six yards. In White’s five game career, he only has 21 receptions for 193 yards and no touchdowns. Although White is still young, he has yet to prove that he’s an NFL talent on the field thus far.
Alternatively, given this is his third season ending injury White may inevitably contemplate retirement to some extent. It appears that White’s body has been unable to withstand the physicality of the NFL. Therefore, White should consider that his body simply can’t handle playing football any longer.
On the other hand, though, White is still very young and can still battle back from this injury as he did the others. He very well may have plenty of play left in him. However, after three straight season ending injuries, there’s no doubt the thought will at least cross his mind once.
Where Chicago goes from here
After losing Cameron Meredith for the season to an ACL tear, they’ve now lost Kevin White for presumably the entire season. Losing their top two wide receivers has now made Chicago very thin at that position. As it stands Kendall Wright will most likely assume the wide receiver one role. Furthermore, once Markus Wheaton returns from his finger injury he will most likely line up across the field to Wright.
Most unfortunately, quarterback Mike Glennon will suffer even more from the loss of White. Glennon had a relatively good debut for Chicago but isn’t getting much help with the loss of yet another playmaker. Look for rookie running back Tarik Cohen to pick up some of the slack in the passing game. Similarly, receiver Josh Bellamy will see additional playing time on offense due to the injuries.
Possible new additions
Given the lack of depth at wide receiver, Chicago needs to bring in more talent to fill the holes. Ideally, I’d like to see Chicago pull up Tanner Gentry from the practice squad to get playing time. In the preseason, Gentry was quite impressive and seemed to have developed chemistry with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Getting Gentry playing time early could be vital in his development for the future.
Another move Chicago could make is to resign Victor Cruz. Although he didn’t perform very well in preseason, he is a veteran presence who knows the playbook and can help Glennon and the younger wide receivers. However, since Chicago is unlikely to be a contender this season, it’s unlikely Cruz returns to Chicago.
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Although losing Kevin White yet again may have been inevitable to some, the loss is still devastating nonetheless. You always hate to see such a young talent go down with a season ending injury, let alone going down with a season ending injury three years in a row. It’ll be interesting to follow how White rehabs from this injury.
Hopefully, White can bounce back for next season and prove his value in his contract year.