Bears receiver Kevin White’s name stands out among the rest. That’s what happens when players are added to the injury report. Their name is listed in bold font.
As White’s was on Thursday.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for White, the Bears’ first-round pick from a year ago who will make his long-awaited regular-season debut Sunday in Houston against the Texans if he plays.
White was officially listed as limited because of hamstring injury. The severity of his injury is unknown. Coach John Fox, as usual, wasn’t going to provide details
It could be nothing. Or it could be something. Hamstring injuries can be problematic and linger.
“Not being a surgeon or a doctor, they just tell me hamstring,” Fox said. “And that’s what I report to you guys [the media].”
When offensive players entered the locker room Thursday after a workout, White was among them. But White didn’t speak to the media. He left the locker room when reporters gathered around receiver Alshon Jeffery.
White’s success and failures will be a storyline all season. He’s essentially a rookie after missing all of last season following shin surgery.
Despite impressive moments in practice, White’s output in the preseason was uninspiring until he made four catches for 57 yards in the exhibition finale in Cleveland. He was the only offensive starter to play against the Browns.
“We thought it was important for Kevin to play because he missed so much time in the past,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said. “We’re excited with how he played against the Browns. He did a nice job. He’s a guy that’s going to keep getting better and better. We’re excited that way.”
But White’s improvements need to show up on the field, so it’s imperative that he stays on it. Hamstring injuries don’t help.
Quarterback Jay Cutler said he’s come to trust White, whose route-running has expanded significantly since college at West Virginia.
“We’re not just going to throw him out there and hope for the best,” Cutler said. “We know what Kevin can do well. We’re going to try and put him in those positions where he can do well.
“I know a lot about Kevin. I know what he likes and what he doesn’t like, how he runs routes. It’s just a matter of experience. He just has to get out there and there are things he has to experience and go through in his first game.
“You got to get through the jitters and after that you just have to play football. He’s a very good football player.”
