Chicago Bears: Kevin White injury opens door for Kendall Wright

Once stuck in a star-studded Chicago Bears offense, Kendall Wright has an opportunity to shine after injuries to Cameron Meredith and Kevin White.

It has been a rough season for Chicago Bears fans and it is only the end of Week 1. Cameron Meredith suffered a torn ACL and MCL tear at the end of the preseason, effectively ending his season.

Now, wideout Kevin White appears to be done for the year too. Monday, it was announced White suffered a fractured scapula and will be placed on injured reserve as a result.

Injuries are unfortunately nothing new for White. In 2015, he suffered a stress fracture in his left tibia during the preseason. As a result, he was placed on the PUP list. After missing all of 2015, he played in the first four games of the 2016 season before it was announced he suffered a fractured left fibula and high ankle sprain in his left leg during the Bears 17-14 win over the Detroit Lions.

When you combine those injuries with this latest development, it is hard to think that White will ever play football again. Once the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, he came into the league with a lot of promise and skill.

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A star at West Virginia, he caught 109 passes for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year, showing that skill-wise, he could play with the league’s best. Unfortunately, injuries appear to be the thing that will ultimately cost him his career.

When one (or in the Bears case, several) door closes, another opens and for sixth-year man Kendall Wright, that is certainly the case. A former Baylor Bear, Wright had a monster senior season for the collegiate Bears in 2011. Catching 108 passes for 1,663 yards and 14 touchdowns, the NFL took notice. He was drafted in the first round, No. 20 overall.

Wright’s best season with the Titans came in 2013. Snagging 94 passes for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns, he proved he could be a viable threat. He has continued to produce stellar numbers throughout the course of his career. His career-high in touchdowns is six, which he recorded in 2014.

Since then, his numbers have not been as high, but he appears to be getting back on track. He was Chicago’s leading receiver on Sunday with three catches for 34 yards, and now he will have to take on an even bigger role with both Meredith and White out for the rest of the season. For all you fantasy football players out there, take him. His stock may never be higher.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Week 2

He may not have planned to become a No. 1 receiver this season but for Kendall Wright, things are trending that way.