Oct. 27--This whole rehabilitation thing is still new to Chicago Bears rookie Kevin White, a promising young receiver who had never dealt with a serious injury before this summer. But now, a little more than two months removed from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left leg, White asserts he has begun to find a proper mental balance during his ongoing recovery. True to his personality, he remains energized and optimistic, fully confident that he will be soon become a force in the Bears' offense. Yet White's patience, he admits, has spiked as well as he has gained acceptance with the uncertainty of his recovery timetable.
On Tuesday afternoon, while teaming with four other Bears rookies during a community appearance in Gurnee to help the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center and the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, White spoke at length about his injury, his rehab and his outlook.
In his first public comments since his August surgery, White again struck a hopeful tone. In all likelihood, his first game action with the Bears won't come until 2016. But for now, the rookie receiver insists he will do everything he can to get back on the field this season and won't rule that possibility out until it's necessary.
Here are the highlights from what he had to say Tuesday.
On finding the patience and purpose during his rehabilitation process ...
"Sometimes it's tough. Some days are better than others. But it's a process. Slow and steady wins the race. So that's what I'm going to do."
On his recent physical activity, including running on an anti-gravity treadmill ...
"I wouldn't call it running. I wouldn't call it running. But I'm progressing. (I've done some work) on the AlterG (treadmill). That's like half my body weight. So I'll just progress each week."
On the demands of the recovery process ...
"My first (major) injury actually. First surgery. First time missing the season due to injury. ... With it being the first time, I guess I've got to get over the hump again and get better."
On the first phase after the surgery ...
"It was tough. Not being able to walk. Not being able to go to the bathroom like I want to or be able to get up and go eat. My mom was there helping me out for about two or three weeks. So she did a lot of the dirty work for me. Fed me, made sure I was comfortable. Made sure I was taking my pills. My mom had a lot to do."
On the patience that general manager Ryan Pace and the Bears organization have shown in assuring White that he does not need to rush back from his injury ...
"Even though this is a business, just to see that side of them guys, not rushing me back for their selfish reasons makes me go harder. It makes me give it my all each and every day. Even though I'd do that for myself anyway. But just to have them behind me and supporting me, it means a lot."
On whether he's flipping his focus to the 2016 season now ...
"Not quite yet. If I can get on the field this year and make a run for it and we can make a run for it, I would like to help my teammates and this organization out. That's playing. If it's not this year, I'll try my best and do what I can for next year. But I'm not closing any doors. I'm not saying that I'm not coming back this year. There's a chance. So I'll do my best to try to make the comeback."
On what percentage he feels he's at right now health-wise ...
"Compared to when I was 100 percent healthy? I've got a ways to go. I've got a ways to go. I'm not doing a lot (right now). I did some jogging last week. This week a little bit more. So it's just progressing each week. I'm not in a rush. But it's not a 'Take your time Kevin' thing either. I want to get back. I think everybody wants me back. I want to be back."
On whether he's closing the door on playing this season ...
"Nah. That's like giving up. I would never give up. So there's a chance. I would like that. Everybody else would like that. But if not, I have to look forward to next year."
On the organization's cautious approach with White's recovery ...
"When I start really running and cutting and getting into the football act, that's when we'll know if I can really go."
On beginning to travel with the team to road games next month ...
"It's seeing the intensity, seeing how much people care about the game. It's seeing my boys go to battle. It's going to give me a chill. I'm going to want to go out there. But this is just going to put the battery in my back, knowing I can't be there for them right now. I'm just going to go harder to try to get back for those guys."
On where he's been watching games this season ...
"Home. Just really trying not to get too involved yet. Because I get antsy. I want to be off my feet and still do some of my therapy. Do the Game Ready (therapy at home) and some leg lifts that they have me doing. I watch the games with my girlfriend. In the beginning, it was me and Mom. And then I watched one or two by myself. It's different."
On what the next big hurdle is ...
"Being able to cut and run full speed. I'm just jogging now. We're going to ramp it up as time goes. I can't wait."
On his involvement in the Bears' community relations and charitable appearances ...
"It means a lot to me. If I hadn't come today, I would have felt guilty. This is about kids who are going through a lot. So just to give two or three hours of our time can make an impact. (Adam Gase) and Coach (John) Fox talk to us all the time about how this isn't all about what you do on the field. It's about what you do off the field as well. And I wanted to be great on and off the field. However many times I have to do this, I will do it. ... (When I hear about events where the Bears need help) nine times out of 10, if I can help I will come. Especially with an event like this where you have kids going through a lot of different things, I owe it to them to give a few hours of my time."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
