Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Who do you think will replace Kevin White now that he's on injured reserve?
Dave K.
Kokomo, Indiana
Eddie Royal is listed second on the depth chart behind Kevin White and you could make a case that Royal has been the Bears' most valuable player through the first four games of the season. So logic would seem to indicate that Royal will start opposite Alshon Jeffery. But much like the Bears have done with the absence of inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, I believe that replacing White will be a group effort. I wouldn't be surprised if Cameron Meredith, Joshua Bellamy and Deonte Thompson all get more reps in the weeks ahead. Meredith is a guy I'm especially impressed with. I've said many times that I feel he's the most underrated player on the Bears' 53-man roster. He's only played wide receiver since switching from quarterback his junior season at Illinois State and has the potential to become an NFL starter at his new position, in my opinion. I'm eager to see how Meredith performs when given more opportunities in upcoming games.
I was disappointed to hear that Kevin White was injured after he was starting to pick up some momentum. Is his injury in any way related to the one he had last season?
Ryan N.
Utah
No, the injury that Kevin White sustained last Sunday against the Lions—a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain—is not related to the stress fracture he suffered during OTAs in the spring of 2015 that forced him to miss his entire rookie season. Both injuries have been to his left leg, but they are unrelated.
I noticed that the Bears are 19-22 all-time against the Colts. That seems like a lot of games to have played against an AFC team. What's the history of the rivalry?
Pierre L.
Chicago
The Colts franchise first started play in Baltimore in 1953 as part of a 12-team National Football League, which was split into two six-team conferences. The Bears and Colts were in the Western Conference together from 1953-1966 and played twice a year each of those seasons. (In those days teams played two games against each of their conference rivals and a total of two contests against opponents from the other conference.) The Eastern and Western Conferences both split into two divisions in 1967 and then the Colts—along with the Browns and Steelers—were moved to the AFC in 1970 when the NFL merged with the American Football League.
