Chicago Bears wide receiver Kevin White is "making headway" when it comes to his shin injury, but there is no timetable for his return, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Head coach John Fox has offered little in the way of updates about White, who has now missed six weeks of action with the team, including the start of training camp.
Kevin White ‘making headway’ but still out with injury, and more from training camp
There’s still no timetable for Kevin White’s return from injury, Jason Pierre-Paul won’t report until he can pass a physical and more from the NFL on Monday.
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White was the No. 7 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft and the Bears have a lot of hopes riding on his success as a rookie. White fits the bill of a potential dominant No. 1 receiver in the league and the Bears parted ways with veteran Brandon Marshall this season. Alshon Jeffery will be the team's top receiver but the Bears will need someone like White to take the coverage off of him.
Of course, it’s just as important for White to recover fully so he takes the field at 100 percent as it is for him to get his practice reps and begin his development. Whatever the case, we don’t know when White will be back, at least for now.
Pierre-Paul not reporting until he can pass physical
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will not sign his franchise tender or report to training camp until he can pass a physical, as reported by Ed Werder of ESPN. Pierre-Paul recently spoke with team general manager Jerry Reese about his fireworks accident that resulted in a severe hand injury, but at this stage there's nothing new to report.
Pierre-Paul is one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, and the Giants obviously want him back as soon as he is able. It stands to reason Pierre-Paul wants to come back as well, but he won’t be reporting to training camp anytime soon. Pierre-Paul’s injury was quite serious and it will be some time before we have anything approaching a timetable on his return. Pierre-Paul is a two-time Pro Bowler and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2011.
Smith, Fitzpatrick pretty much perfect through four days
Neither Geno Smith nor Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown an interception through four days of practice, as noted by ESPN. Obviously, this is just training camp, but it's typical for defenses to shine a little more this early in camp, and both Smith and Fitzpatrick don't inspire a whole lot of confidence to begin with. The two are battling for the starting quarterback job, with Fitzpatrick having shown more as a starter over the years.
That said, it seems to be an even race at this stage. Smith struggled in two seasons with the Jets, completing 57.5 percent of his passes with 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. Fitzpatrick completed 63.1 percent of his passes with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions with the Houston Texans last season. It's anybody's job.
Beckham, Cruz both practicing
The New York Giants have a pair of very talented receivers in Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz, but they each have their concerns. Beckham had significant injuries last season, and the Giants are planning on keeping him on "pitch count," according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. It's the first time Beckham started and completed a training camp practice since the team drafted him.
Cruz sustained a serious knee injury in October, and this was his first practice since that injury. Cruz was "looking sharp in and out of his cuts," which is great news for the Giants. If both of these guys stay healthy and look good heading into the regular season, Eli Manning will be a happy quarterback and the Giants will be a dangerous team.
Lotulelei carted off the field
Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Star Lotulelei sustained an injury to his right foot and had to be carted off the practice field. Lotulelei had his right foot in a walking boot after practice, and said that the team's medical staff didn't tell him a whole lot about what the injury could be, according to Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers themselves merely suggested Lotulelei left practice with soreness in his foot, so it really could be anything at this stage.
Lotulelei wouldn't be the first player to be carted off the field for an injury that wound up being minor. The team could be playing it safe given he sustained a serious foot injury last season -- a fractured foot in January, preventing him from appearing in the team's divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. (UPDATE 6:16 p.m. ET: The team announced that his injury is a "stress reaction in his foot." He will be reevaluated in late August.)
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