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Wilhite Trying to Wind a Roster Spot..............
Wilhite making most of opportunity in OTAs
May, 31, 2012 May 31
12:08
PM CT
By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com
Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesJonathan Wilhite said the transition from Denver has been made easier by his teammates.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Bears' signing of free agent cornerback Jonathan Wilhite flew under the radar back in April, but the fifth-year defensive back has stood out in both OTAs open to the media at Halas Hall. With Tim Jennings sidelined Wednesday due to undisclosed reasons, Wilhite handled the first-team reps at cornerback, and intercepted an underthrown Jay Cutler pass at the start of team drills.
Wilhite also picked off a pass last week when the media was in attendance.
"The transition (from Denver to the Bears) has been really good," Wilhite said. "There are some great players and great coaches here who are willing to help. They have really accepted me in and been willing to help me out. It's been wonderful so far being around guys like Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings.'
"Anytime you go to a new team you have to learn their specifics and terminology, but so far I've been catching. But I've also got guys around me who are making my transition easier."
Selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2008 draft out of Auburn, Wilhite is accustomed to seeing occasional time with the first team. He made 13 career starts for the Pats before playing last season in Denver where he cracked the Broncos' starting lineup twice.
"The reps have been good," Wilhite said. "I've had a chance to go out there and make calls and go against great receivers every single day. It's been really good for me."
Only time will tell if Wilhite will be given a chance to seriously challenge Jennings or one of the other cornerbacks on the roster for a starting job. Although Jennings was a spectator on Wednesday, the returning starter has by all accounts had a solid offseason program. The Bears also signed free agent cornerback Kelvin Hayden who is still working his way back from a variety of injuries the past few years.
"Right now that's (winning a starting job) not my main focus," Wilhite said. "It's learning the defense, doing the things I need to do to help the team anyway I can. Whatever happens, happens ... my thing is to come (here), know what I'm doing, know my assignment and execute it. Whatever the coaches decide to do they decide to do."
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Now we have an explanation for why Wilhite has been getting first team reps. Hayden is still rehabbing and Jennings is sitting out for some undisclosed reason.
Edit: Just noticed I added a d to Win. Oops.
Last edited by soulman; 05-31-2012 at 03:19 PM.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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may the best lackluster DB win, the dud on team 3 or the inj prone duds....WOOOO
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That gives me some concern for Hayden. i didn't think he had been held out earlier. Maybe he was going full tilt before he was really ready and re-injured himself.
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Originally Posted by
bearsinhouston 
That gives me some concern for Hayden. i didn't think he had been held out earlier. Maybe he was going full tilt before he was really ready and re-injured himself.
No, he's been out all along. He's a veteran who is being held out for precautionary recovery reasons so that he doesn't have another injury plagued season by rushing himself back too early. He knows the system and has played in it for nearly his entire career -- he'll b fine.
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You sure?
The very first practices we had after the draft showed Hayden out there with the team. I'll see if I can go back and find the pics.
Originally Posted by
lklrlolnlilklsox No, he's been out all along. He's a veteran who is being held out for precautionary recovery reasons so that he doesn't have another injury plagued season by rushing himself back too early. He knows the system and has played in it for nearly his entire career -- he'll b fine.
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Originally Posted by
bearsinhouston You sure?
The very first practices we had after the draft showed Hayden out there with the team. I'll see if I can go back and find the pics.
That maybe true, but I've seen Knox on the field too this year.
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Can't argue with that. Not being there, I guess I don't know if he was decoration or busting his ass.
Originally Posted by
yttocs That maybe true, but I've seen Knox on the field too this year.
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I forget exactly what's keeping his out but it's not the issue with his neck it's something else. The fact that they're keeping him out of these first OTA's tells me they have a lot of confidence in his and that they expect him to make the roster once he's healthy.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman I forget exactly what's keeping his out but it's not the issue with his neck it's something else. The fact that they're keeping him out of these first OTA's tells me they have a lot of confidence in his and that they expect him to make the roster once he's healthy.
I believe another article mentioned he had surgery for plantar facitis (I know I probably butchered the spelling) last year and that's what he's still recovering from.
Edit: just re-read the other article. Had the injury right but didn't have surgery for it so disregard that part of my comment.
Last edited by Papa Bear; 06-02-2012 at 11:33 AM.
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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