Kevin White’s progress a mystery as Bears begin OTAs – Chicago Tribune

The Bears are diving deeper into their offseason program at Halas Hall, in their first week of organized team activities at Halas Hall. Here's what we learned from Tuesday's session, the only one this week open to the media.

White was in attendance Tuesday, but the Bears' media policy prohibits reporting on how much White participated. The third-year receiver continues working back from the season-ending spiral fracture he suffered in his left fibula last October.

Asked for his early impressions of White, starting quarterback Mike Glennon lit up.

"I've really enjoyed getting to know Kevin on the field and off the field," Glennon said. "He's a great guy. He works his butt off. And he made some really good plays (Monday) that got me excited. He's really eager to learn. I know he's eager to get back out on that field."

Bears coach John Fox was asked about White's status but offered an intentionally vague response.

"We're just trying to make sure we get guys ready for camp, and even more precisely, for Game 1 against Atlanta," Fox said. "So we're going to do anything necessary to make that happen."

Pressed on whether White would be participating extensively on the field in the OTAs over the next three weeks, Fox dodged the question.

"We're not really going to get much into that, as far as who's in and who's out," Fox said. "It's just realizing that we're not lining up to play just yet."

There have been no indications that White has suffered any sort of setback in his recovery. White, the No. 7 pick in 2015, has missed 28 games over his first two seasons and has totaled 19 catches for 187 yards in the four games he has played.

White will be under escalating pressure this season to remain healthy and produce. And Fox did him few favors Tuesday by refusing to shed light on the receiver's status. The Bears coach certainly didn't reduce any outside worry about White's ability to stay healthy.

The veteran quarterback acknowledged feeling surprised when the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick last month. And if he initially felt jilted, Glennon found reassurance in general manager Ryan Pace's persistent pledge that he will be the Bears' starter heading into 2017.

"The 2017 season is my year," Glennon said. "That's all I can worry about. I'm not worried about the future. I'm not worried about the past."

Publicly anyway, Glennon expressed confidence that he and Trubisky would be able to coexist harmoniously. He also reiterated his comfort in his role as the starter.

"This is my year, and the meetings are geared around me," Glennon said. "Am I going to help Mitch as much as I can? Definitely. I'm going to be a great teammate. But my job is to win football games for the Chicago Bears. And that's where my head's at."

Among those not present at Tuesday's practice were inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, outside linebacker Willie Young, offensive lineman Kyle Long, tight end Zach Miller and center Hroniss Grasu. All five of those players are still rehabilitating from surgeries after suffering season-ending injuries in 2016.

In addition, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is gradually working back from shoulder surgery and was on the field Tuesday.

New outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley praised McPhee's "infectious spirit" and said, in studying the Bears' film from the last two seasons, he noticed a difference when McPhee was on the field.

"You saw this difference when 92 is out there," Staley said. "From the second I got here and we went out one-on-one to eat, I just said, 'It's got to be your mission to get back out there at the beginning. Because this team is going to be different with you at the beginning.' That's what he has been working for every day. I think he's going to allow us to be a lot more complete defense.

dwiederer@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @danwiederer

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Kevin White's progress a mystery as Bears begin OTAs - Chicago Tribune