Ex-Bears WR White signs with 49ers
Former Bears wide receiver Kevin White is back in the NFL.
White, drafted seventh overall by the Bears in 2015, signed a one-year contract with the 49ers on Thursday. White, 28, did not play in the NFL in 2019 after being cut by the Cardinals, with whom he signed as a free agent after four years with the Bears.
Somewhat ironically, White’s latest opportunity developed because of injuries that have thinned the 49ers’ wide receiver corps. Deebo Samuel (stress fracture in foot), 2020 first-round draft pick Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring) and Richie James (broken hand) are not practicing. And Jalen Hurd, a 2019 third-round pick who missed last season with a back injury, was put on injured reserve last week with a knee injury.
White surely can feel Hurd’s pain. The former West Virginia standout has had a star-crossed career since becoming Ryan Pace’s initial firstround pick as the Bears’ general manager. White has played in just 14 games in five seasons, much of that inactivity because of various injuries that have plagued him since he entered the NFL. He had 25 receptions for 285 yards and no touchdowns in four years with the Bears.
White suffered a season-ending injury in each of his first three seasons — a stress fracture in his left shin during OTAs in 2015; a broken left fibula and severe left ankle injury in Week 4 in 2016; and a fractured left shoulder blade in the season opener in 2017.
Teams don’t practice in protest
Empty practice fields made for loud and powerful statements at nine facilities across the NFL.
Nine teams chose to not practice in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“We’ve been protecting the shield,” Jets running back Le’Veon Bell wrote of the NFL in a Twitter post. “It’s time for the shield to protect us.”
Broncos running back Melvin Gordon grew up in Kenosha, and he and other players, coaches and staff posed for a team photo that was posted along with a statement on Twitter.
“This hits home for all of us,” part of the statement read. “In the strongest terms, we condemn police brutality, excessive force and these senseless acts of violence that have caused so much pain. It is time for accountability and real policy reform.”
The Lions canceled practice Tuesday, protesting the incident involving Blake and racial injustice. They were back on the field Thursday, but the impact of their actions was clear across the rest of the league.
“I think that if there’s any chance that we got everybody to maybe stop and think for a minute, that’s really great,” Lions coach Matt Patricia said.
Eagles lose LT Dillard for season
Eagles starting left tackle Andre Dillard tore his biceps and likely will need season-ending surgery, according to ESPN. Dillard, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, suffered the injury during one-on-one drills. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby player out of Australia, replaced Dillard in the lineup.
Dolphins send RB Ballage to Jets
The Jets acquired running back Kalen Ballage from the Dolphins for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2021. The trade between the AFC East rivals reunites Ballage with coach Adam Gase, who was in charge in Miami when the Dolphins drafted him in the fourth round out of Arizona State.
Bills cut K Hauschka
The Bills released Stephen Hauschka, their starting kicker since 2017, nearly one year to the day after giving him a two-year contract extension. They selected Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, igniting a position battle that took roughly a month to resolve.