John Fox: Bears haven’t seriously discussed Kevin White coming off IR

Bears receiver Kevin White is eligible to return from injured reserve next week.

But he likely won’t.

“We haven’t really discussed seriously at this point about if he can come back, or when,” coach John Fox said Tuesday. “But he’s eligible.”

Fox wouldn’t say if White,

who broke his left shoulder blade in the home opener, has a chance to return this season.

Fox said being around the team — he was spotted at Halas Hall on Monday — was a bonus for White.

“I think those things are important,” Fox said. “Even watching other people do it, even though it’s not your experience, I think you can learn from other people’s mistakes. Or you can learn just by watching and getting a better understanding.”

NFL teams can activate two players off injured reserve after eight weeks away.

The Bears’ most likely candidates to return include safety Quintin Demps (broken forearm) and safety/cornerback Deiondre’ Hall (hamstring). Hall, who began the season on IR, can return this week.

RELATED STORIES

At midway point, how Bears D has matched last year’s takeaway total

With Zach Miller out, rookie Adam Shaheen has a chance to break out

On Freeman

One day after Jerrell Freeman responded to his 10-day performance-enhancing drug suspension by saying he experienced a head injury and memory loss, inside linebackers coach Glenn Pires said he was disappointed by the suspension. He also praised the Bears’ medical staff.

“The NFL doesn’t stop for anybody,” Pires said. “And I’m going to keep moving forward as well as anybody else. And whatever happens to him, hopefully it’ll be for the best.”

This and that

Despite the busiest NFL trade deadline in years, the Bears stood pat Tuesday. The Bears traded a conditional seventh-rounder for receiver Dontrelle Inman last week.

• The Bears don’t have to file an injury report during their bye week. Players not present at the portion of practice open to reporters included cornerback Bryce Callahan (knee) and guards Kyle Long (finger on left hand) and Tom Compton (left foot). Veterans Pernell McPhee and Danny Trevathan also did not attend.

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley.

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com