NEWSLETTER
Let me just say this first: As someone with a traditional journalism background, I’m ecstatic to see journalists around the league back in the practice gym. I don’t think some people realize how much this positively impacts the coverage provided. Building in-person relationships and seeing things with your own eyes is critical to producing the best content, so shoutout to all the local folks who finally get to do the job to the best of their ability again.
Going along with that, thanks to the in-person coverage from NBC Sports Chicago’s Rob Schaefer and K.C. Johnson at Day 1 of Bulls’ training camp, we all received a small update on the status of the injured Patrick Williams and Coby White.
Williams, who is currently recovering from a severe ankle sprain he suffered earlier this month, could be seen getting some shots up post-practice. While the 20-year-old was not doing much more than waltzing around the half-court, it was still encouraging to see him work through some jump-shot lines.
Patrick Williams getting shots up at Bulls practice pic.twitter.com/lhbE1Lp7ep
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) September 28, 2021
Williams originally hurt his ankle on September 15th, and the team reported that he would undergo a 4-to-6 week recovery timeline from that date. The front end of that estimate would put him back on the floor on October 13th, which is exactly one week before the season. The back end would see Williams return on October 27th, which would have him miss at least the first four games of the season (Detroit, New Orleans, Detroit, Toronto). While we can not safely assume anything from one video, there is no question this feels like a positive sign that could inch him closer to that four-week timeline. The real question, however, will be whether or not we see him expand on this involvement as training camp continues throughout the week.
Another close eye will have to be kept on Coby White. Any kind of pre-season return is off the table, but the Bulls did share recently that the sharpshooting guard should be able to re-join the team in November. White did not address the media on Monday, but we do know thanks to a recent interview with Uproxx that his recovery has been going smoothly. We also now know – thanks to Johnson – that White has been able to pick up a basketball and do “pretty much everything” except left-handed overhead shots.
Coby White said he's able to do "pretty much everything on the basketball court" but struggles with left-handed overhead shots. Still needs to strengthen shoulder.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 28, 2021
Considering his timeline is still for a return is still over a month away, this feels completely acceptable. In fact, strengthening that shoulder likely isn’t going to be something that is 100 percent solved before he re-takes the court. Getting back in the full swing of things and trusting that arm will surely take some in-game reps.
Neither news on Williams or White drastically changes their current recovery outlook, but it does give us an idea that both are on the right track. All we can hope now is that these positive updates only stack up as training camp continues this week.
