The Chicago Bears and Kevin White remained hopeful that White could return to the field, from what they called "shin splints." While the Bears were very cautious with White and he denied having a stress fracture, now his injury has taken a turn for the worse. Bears' General Manager Ryan Pace just announced that White suffered a stress fracture and will miss at least the first six games of the regular season.
It's a major blow for a Bears' team that has wanted to surround quarterback Jay Cutler with more help after trading Brandon Marshall. White, this year's seventh-overall pick, had missed all of training camp while slowly trying to work his way back from the shin injury. White and the Bears seemed certain White would be ok and would ideally not miss any regular season games, but a setback last week changed all that.
Now White will start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, ruling him out for at least the first six weeks of the season. While it's still unknown when White will undergo surgery, delaying a more precise timetable for his return to the field, Chicago will certainly be very careful with its investment in the young receiver.
Pace's statement that White could miss the entire season is a strong indicator that we are almost certainly looking beyond the six-week timetable for games missed. Pace also confirmed that the injury first happened during OTA's and the condition just grew worse from there.
Now with White sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Bears will rely heavily on Eddie Royal and Marquess Wilson to carry some of the extra weight left. Chicago's top receiver, Alshon Jeffery, was seen in a walking boot and on crutches last night and this morning, but Pace indicated it's not a long-term injury.
Fantasy Slant:
White had seen his average draft position (ADP) slip as of late to 87th overall and falling when it was just believed he had shin splints. Now with the news of his stress fracture, White's ADP in re-draft leagues should fall off the board with an uncertain timetable for returning.
With White sidelined, Royal receives a fantasy boost as Cutler's number-two target, he will work out of the slot and many expect a career year. As long as Jeffery's injury isn't serious, his stock as a WR1 this season just solidifies itself even more with the news. Wilson will now start opposite of Jeffery on the outside, but is still behind Jeffery, Royal and Martellus Bennett in line for targets.