Kevin White’s leg has finally healed.
The rookie receiver could potentially still play this year for the Chicago Bears if he’s cleared medically before the deadline, head coach John Fox told reporters on Monday, via Adam Hoge of WGN Radio.
John Fox said Kevin White's leg has healed. It's just a matter of getting him in football shape. If he's cleared by deadline, he'll play.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 7, 2015
The Bears landed White with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was one of the most hyped players at any position leading into the draft and was expected to contribute in a major way as a rookie.
His potential return can only be viewed as good news for a team that needed some.
Chicago suffered a miserable defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, but with a record of 5-7 the team still has an outside shot at getting into the playoffs as a wild card team.
Though, if the Bears lose even one more game before White returns, the playoffs will certainly be out of the question.
Adding a receiver of White’s caliber to the mix could benefit the team’s sometimes stagnant offense, though one wonders how much he could really contribute. Coming into the league as a rookie is hard enough, but White never got an opportunity to mesh with quarterback Jay Cutler during training camp due to his leg injury.
Getting the rookie onto the field will still be viewed as a minor victory, and it will give Bears fans a glimpse into what could be an explosive offense in 2016.