NEWSLETTER
Injuries have a way of providing a reality check, especially for professional athletes who are in peak condition year round and often viewed as deities among mortals.
And there is no doubt the litany of injuries that have slowed down Bears receiver Kevin White have been humbling. But with being humbled comes perspective, and it sounds like White is in a better place now than he has been in previous years. Now could be the time White’s hard work, patience, and newfound perspective pays off for him (and his team).
“Before it was more like me against the world,” White said, via Jeff Joniak at 670 The Score. “More anger than anything, I guess. That’s not who I am. For the first time in my career, it actually felt like work. I had to adjust some things. It wasn’t the right way. There’s a lot of things that happen in people’s careers in this business that are out of your control. I am a great team player, no matter what it is. Whether it’s blocking or catching or supporting my teammates, that’s what I’ll do. It definitely took a little time.”
One key to living a fulfilling life is taking advantage of dare-to-be-great moments that are presented to you when they are placed at your doorstep. Unfortunately, those moments have been too few and far between White, who entered the 2018 season having been unavailable for 90 percent of the team’s offensive snaps since he was drafted in 2015. Chicago’s front office hasn’t given up on White just yet, but in a world where actions speak louder than words, GM Ryan Pace’s tear-down and rebuild of the receivers room and re-shaping of the depth chart ahead of the 2015 first-round pick says all you need to know.
In previous years, White’s injuries have opened the doors for other receivers to step up and step into a role as lead receiver. But with Allen Robinson expected to be out of action due to a lingering groin issue, it’s White who could be in line for a moment in the sun at Solider Field.
Quarterback Mitch Trubisky has confidence in White, going as far as saying in his weekly press conference that White was going to be a big part of the offense moving forward. Trubisky’s faith in White is different than what you might otherwise expect from a quarterback who has had limited reps with this particular receiver. Remember, Trubisky hosted White for offseason workouts in California and the two seemed to really hit it off. That relationship continued to grow in the summer when White was making a push not to be the odd-man out going into the 2018 season. Perhaps that time together will ultimately pay off.
