Ryan Pace: Kevin White Should Return To Light Running, Some On-Field Work Next Week

(CBS) As Bears rookie receiver has Kevin White remains sidelined during training camp with a shin injury, coach John Fox has maintained that he's hopeful White can return fairly soon, on multiple occasion indicating it's not serious.

Now, the circumstance around White's injury have become more mysterious.

In a TV hit on Thursday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that there's a "real chance" White could remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list to start the season, which means he would have to miss the first six weeks. Later Thursday, the Bears gave no hint that's the case, though they gave no indication of a timeline for a return either.

White has been shut down for nearly seven weeks with the shin problem, which dates back to near the end of organized team activities in June. He hasn't done any work on hard ground yet, instead doing work in the pool. White could start doing some light running next week, Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in an interview on 670 The Score on Thursday.

"We have a progressive plan in place," Pace said.

"Next week, we'll bring him out, he'll do some light running -- you'll probably see that early next week. So there's a plan in place to bring him back at the right pace. We don't want to rush him."

Asked if there's fear that this is a chronic problem for White, Pace responded, "Once we get it under control, we should be good."

With a degree of uncertainty and exasperation from reporters wanting to know what exactly is wrong with White, Fox said Wednesday that you could call the injury shin splits.

"Whether or not he'll fall behind, I can't say," Fox said. "I don't think so. He's a smart guy.

"He really attacks the game and answer questions. I think we got plenty of time to get him out there and ready to play."

White's injury likely stems from over-training leading up to the NFL Combine in February, Fox told the Jim Rome Show on Tuesday.

"The key to that is getting off your legs, especially the pounding on the grass," Fox said. "You know, these guys come out of college having played a whole college season, then they train like crazy. You know, Kevin's a very serious guy about his profession and worked very hard.

"We're just being cautious. He hasn't done anything in seven weeks."

The Bears drafted White with the seventh pick in the first round.