Chicago Bears Injury Update: Kevin White to injured reserve with a fractured fibula

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Chicago Bears’ players believe that wide receiver Kevin White will be “out an extended period of time,” with the ankle injury he suffered on Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

EDIT: Kevin White suffered a severe high ankle sprain that resulted in a fracture to his fibula. The Bears aren’t sure it surgery is needed, but they are weighing all options.

The first step is placing White on injured reserve, meaning the earliest he can return to practice is six weeks, and the earliest he can return to the active roster is eight weeks. But if he does recover enough to return, that means Kyle Fuller, also on IR, has to stay out for the entire season. The new IR rule only allows teams to bring one player back, and all others on IR must remain out for the entire season.

Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times is reporting that White’s latest setback is unrelated to last year’s shin injury.

White was actually leading the team in receptions with 19 and in targets with 36. His 187 yards receiving is 3rd on the team and he also has one rushing attempt for 9 yards.

After a slow start this preseason, with a single catch in each of the first three games, White grabbed 4 for 57 yards in the final preseason game. He had a rough start to the regular season as well, with his wrong route leading to a week one interception, but he’s come on the last two games with 12 receptions.

He’s started to flash the athleticism that made him the 7th overall pick on the 2015 NFL Draft.

The ankle injury to running back Jeremy Langford is expected to keep him out 4 to 6 weeks, so at this point we can only speculate a to how “extended” White’s injury will be.

With White down, Cameron Meredith should see an increase in playing time.

EDIT: With White to IR, the Bears have elevated fullback Paul Lasike to the active roster and signed Rory “Busta” Anderson top the practice squad.