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Kevin White knows opportunity won't just keep knocking on his door forever.

Eventually, he'll have to answer.

The only way to do that is by living up to those sky-high expectations that come with being the seventh overall pick in an NFL draft. And, knock on wood, by avoiding the injury bug that bit him time and time again early in his career.

He knows all of this, which is why getting that phone call for a tryout on Monday with the New Orleans Saints and then signing with them a day later means so much to him.

He appreciated Wednesday's first practice with his new team, the fourth different one he's been on since entering the league. It's another chance, perhaps his last one, to shed that "bust" label that comes with being picked so high and yet produce so little.



"It means everything," White said. "Going on Year 7 and not really getting an opportunity, now that I'm healthy, I know a lot about the game and I know how the business works, I feel good. It means a lot that someone else gave me a chance to live out my dream and kinda prove myself right and everybody else wrong."

White has been trying to prove people wrong since April 30, 2015. That's the night NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stood on stage and called Kevin White's name. White's combination of size and speed (6-foot-3, 215 with a 4.35 40-time) had most thinking he would be a sure thing for the Chicago Bears. Then the injuries came, one after another, starting with a stress fracture in OTAs as a rookie. Then a severe high ankle sprain and a fractured fibula the next year. Then he fractured his shoulder blade the following season. Then came a hamstring tear. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, but got released before the season started and didn't play that season. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers last August and spent most of the season on their practice squad.

"Very frustrating, just because I feel like I've put the work in," White said. "I had the right mindset. And for whatever reason, it just doesn't pan out. I can't hang my head. Sometimes I ask 'Why?' I just have to keep going and until the time comes, I'll go hard and do what I'm capable of."

The 49ers released him last week.

He needed a team.

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SmashMouth

17 ..... I wonder what this number reminds me of ... Meachum?

neugey

I remember him as a failed fantasy WR sleeper, particularly in that second year with the Bears. Hoping this time the Saints can unlock his potential and good health. We might need him more than he needs us!

SmashMouth

K Major

Chris Hogan ain’t working out? Kevin White is a long shot to make this team. Talk about a injury prone player.

Talent has never been the issue not to mention the Bears have had some pretty inconsistent QBs.

I wish him well though.

SmashMouth

SmashMouth

SmashMouth

SmashMouth

Crazy injury plagued career... if he can get his body right, you never know. We do have a pretty good WR coach.

4.3 speed and size at 6'3" 220lbs

Rugby Saint II

He has all the measurables but he can't stay off IR. I hope that he makes the team and contributes.