Fox says White did all he could to play
With the immediate future of first-round Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White decided — he won't play or practice for the remainder of the season — coach John Fox was asked what went into that decision.
“He'd been away from football a long time, other than a few reps in rookie minicamp and some of the off-season,” Fox said. “He really hadn't played football since West Virginia (Dec. 29, 2014). So we just deemed it best to take him out these last three games and get him ready for next year.”
White had surgery in late August to repair stress fractures in his left shin, and Fox said it wasn't for lack of effort that the seventh overall draft pick was unable to help the Bears this year.
“Let me just make this clear,” Fox said. “Kevin's done everything in his power to play for us this year. Unfortunately he had an injury. He's worked very hard in the rehab process.
“He's been a guy that's been very, very consistent in all those things you have to do, whether it's what time treatment is, how long treatment is.
“He's worked very, very hard. He's done everything in his power to get healthy and try to play football this year. It just didn't work out.”
White could have been added to the 53-man roster and, even if he didn't play in a game, he could have continued practicing with the team as he did on a limited basis for the previous three weeks.
“It's hard to hold a spot for those practices,” Fox said. “Our training staff can simulate most of what he can do, that he was doing in practice. He's not scrimmaging, he's not in full pads, and we're not banging him around. We can simulate that with the training staff within the NFL rules.”
Getting a shot:
Undrafted rookie linebacker John Timu, who played sparingly on special teams in the first four games and was then moved to the practice squad, was brought back up to the 53-man roster Tuesday and is expected to see playing time on defense at the expense of Christian Jones and Jonathan Anderson.
“He does have good instincts,” coach John Fox said of Timu. “He's a powerful guy, and he's a young player. That's why we kept him on the football team. I think he's earned the opportunity in what he's done on the practice squad and in practice.”
Still a load:
At 30, the age when most running backs begin to trend downward, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson leads the NFL with 1,251 rushing yards.
“He doesn't seem to be slowing down any,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “He's still got speed and toughness. He makes quick cuts. He's got vision. It wouldn't surprise me to see him play for a few more years.”
Peterson leads the NFL with 268 carries and is tied for the league lead with 9 rushing touchdowns.
Injury report:
Cornerbacks Bryce Callahan (quad) and Sherrick McManis (concussion) and tight end Zach Miller (illness) did not practice.
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (calf), cornerback Tracy Porter (ankle), linebacker Pernell McPhee (knee) and defensive lineman Will Sutton (knee) were limited.