Arizona Cardinals wide receiver needs to shake injury bug

Veteran wide receiver Kevin White is hoping to get his injury-marred career back on track with the 2019 Arizona Cardinals

Back in March, the Arizona Cardinals decided to roll the dice. Free agency had just gotten underway, and the club was looking for help at the wide receiver spot. The Cards took a look at the available pass-catchers, and discovered an interesting scenario being presented before them.

Kevin White, the seventh-overall pick of the 2015 draft, was searching for employment. Arizona was intrigued, and proceeded to sign the former Chicago Bear to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. An extremely reasonable deal for a player with White’s pedigree, correct?

The truth of the matter is, it was never White’s talent that was in question. In the four years he has spent in professional football, however, the 27-year old has been as brittle as a piece of china. White has missed an incredible 50 games during that time period, an absurd amount of absences for such a young player.

The injury woes began for White back in ’15, during his rookie campaign. A stress fracture to the shin suffered during that offseason’s OTAs required surgery. White had a steel rod inserted into his left tibia which caused him to miss the entire season.

White suited up for four contests in 2016 before disaster struck again. In week five, the former University of West Virginia product fractured the fibula in his left leg and was placed on injured reserve. White tallied 19 receptions for 187 yards and zero touchdowns before the setback occurred.

The veteran’s 2017 campaign lasted just one week. During the season-opener, White fractured his left shoulder blade. On September 10th, the unlucky individual was placed on injured reserve for the third consecutive year.

White stayed injury-free in 2018, but the Bears appeared to be tiring of him. The 6’3, 216 pounder was a healthy scratch in 7 of Chicago’s 16 contests. In nine appearances (zero starts), White hauled in just four passes for 92 yards and failed to find the end zone.

True to form, White has already missed time during training camp due to an undisclosed injury. The wideout also missed the Cardinals first preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. An unimpressive beginning to White’s stint in the desert, to say the least.

White is facing an uphill battle to secure a spot on the Cards 53-man roster. As it stands now, the club is loaded at the wide receiver position. White’s time with Arizona, and with the National Football League in general, could quite possibly be coming to an end.