Bears WR turmoil continues, with Kevin White on certain minds

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It would not be a week of the 2015 season if some misfortune, big or small, didn’t befall the Bears’ wide receiver group. Week 12 has been no exception.

Marquess Wilson was the latest casualty when he injured a foot on the final play of Wednesday’s practice in a week already with Eddie Royal out of practice with a knee injury and on track to miss his fifth straight game and sixth in his last eight.

The offense already has been without first-round draft pick Kevin White since June with a stress fracture in his left shin. But White was present at practice Thursday, his second straight practice day and a possible indicator that he had no ill effects from Wednesday’s work with the team.

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The Bears have not made a decision on whether to activate or IR White for the remainder of the season, and don’t have to make that call for the better part of two more weeks.

But that has not stopped offensive coordinator Adam Gase from musing about where White might fit into his offense – another very strong indicator that declarations of White’s season being over were beyond premature.

Yeah. I try to think what would be the right thing to use him for,” Gase said. “You know when you’re a first-year player in the league, you’re not going to grasp everything right away. So especially with the limited time that we’ve had him, it’s what should we do with him if he does get out there.

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“And what’s going to be the best thing that he can do to help contribute? So in the back of my head, every time I’m watching to see what’s going to be best for him if we get that opportunity.”

The decision ultimately will turn, first, on the strength of White’s tibia, and also on whether his return holds any upside for the Bears, as in playoffs.

“It’s just going to be all about when they give us the green light that, hey, we can put him in a real situation in a real game and then evaluating where he’s at as far as what he can do in those areas,” Gase said. “That makes it easier if you just say, ‘hey, we’re going to throw one up, go and get it.’ There’s always those kinds of situations you can put a guy in. You can make it very simple for a young wide receiver if you want to.”

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