Bears rookie Kevin White requires surgery on his shin and could miss his entire rookie season, the team’s general manager announced Saturday.
At a minimum, White will remain on the physically unable to perform list, making him ineligible to resume practicing before Week 7.
This year’s No. 7 overall pick, White signed his rookie contract in may worth $16.5 million over four seasons.
“We were being very cautious. This guy’s a big commodity for us,” said Bears GM Ryan Pace.
On Friday, the former West Virginia star told the Chicago Sun-Times he felt healthy enough to return after missing the Bears’s preseason opener and 11 previous practices.