Bears receiver Kevin White has fractured fibula, may need surgery

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin Whitewas placed on injured reserve after he suffered a severe high ankle sprain that resulted in a fractured fibula in his left leg.

The Bears have not ruled out the possibility that White will undergo surgery, but the team is currently exploring all options before making a final determination,general manager Ryan Pace said Wednesday.

White, the seventh overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft, sat out his entire rookie season due to a stress fracture in his left shin. At the time of that injury, White had a steel rod inserted into his tibia to stabilize the left leg.

Bears coach John Fox said he believes White can still have a productive career and pointed to Demaryius Thomas as an example of a player who didn't take off until his third year in the NFL.

"I go back to even my experience in Denver with Demaryius Thomas. He probably didn't do a whole lot until Year 3," Fox said. "So he had setbacks and he was injured coming out of college. He had an Achilles injury after that and a finger injury after that and he had two surgeries in his first year and a half of NFL football. He's turned out pretty good."

White's latest setback occurred last Sunday when he left the Bears' 17-14 victory over the Detroit Lions in the third quarter following a 1-yard completion. White limped back to the sideline and eventually went to the locker room. White was in considerable pain in the postgame locker room, and he underwent a preliminary MRI on Monday.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate. After a slow start to the season, White played with increased confidence in recent weeks, leading the team in receptions (19). White is also third in receiving yards (187).

"I thought it was by far his best game [in Week 4]," Fox said Monday." I think he was real aggressive. I think he caught some contested balls. I think after the catch I felt he was aggressive to get extra yards after the catch. I thought it was his best performance.

"I think when you're not thinking and you kind of know what you're doing, you just cut loose and play, which is ideally what you want guys to do. I think it comes with that experience."

White is eligible to return in eight weeks.