Squirrel White was placed on the reserve/retired list just 16 days after signing with the Chicago Bears, ending his NFL career before it began.
A new wave of uncertainty hit the Chicago Bears’ wide receiver plans this week after a rookie signing ended far sooner than anyone expected.
The Bears entered the offseason with a clear need at wide receiver after trading D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills earlier this spring. With Moore gone, Chicago moved to refill the position through both the draft and free agency, even as the team’s depth chart continued to take shape.
Chicago selected Zavion Thomas out of LSU in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft. aiming to add another option to its receiving group.. The team also brought in Kalif Raymond from the division-rival Detroit Lions in March. though Raymond is viewed as more likely to contribute as a kick returner than as a primary pass-catcher.
To add more competition during training camp, the Bears signed undrafted free agent Squirrel White. That plan immediately ran into a major snag: just 16 days after White signed, the team placed him on the reserve/retired list, effectively ending his NFL career before it could begin.
It is not publicly known what led to White’s abrupt retirement.. However. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that she observed White leaving the practice field with a trainer and did not return for practice after what was described as a stretch period during practice.. The report raised questions among observers about whether the decision may have been related to an injury.
White’s path to the NFL had already been marked by steady development in college. According to his collegiate record, he spent the first three seasons of his career with the Tennessee Volunteers, where he totaled 131 catches for 1,665 yards and six touchdowns.
For his senior season, White transferred to Florida State. That final year, however, did not produce a major statistical impact; he recorded five receptions for 52 yards across 10 games last season.
With White’s departure, the Bears’ target share is expected to tilt further toward their remaining established options. Olamide Zaccheaus has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons, and with Moore now with Buffalo, Chicago’s passing focus is likely to center on Rome Odunze and Luther Burden.
Behind Odunze and Burden, Chicago’s wider depth picture is still in motion. The Bears’ receiving room includes Thomas, Scotty Miller, Jahdae Walker, Raymond, Kyron Hudson, and Omari Kelly, with those players expected to compete for the WR3, WR4, and WR5 roles as training camp approaches.
Raymond’s anticipated role as a return specialist may still provide value even as the Bears recalibrate their receiver depth. At the same time, Thomas’s draft selection suggests the team is preparing to rely on younger options to help close the gap created by the Moore trade.
The decision to place White on the reserve/retired list so quickly also underscores how abruptly NFL plans can change when health and availability become uncertain.. For a team building depth competition in camp. the loss of an offseason addition can ripple through practice reps. conditioning cycles. and the internal hierarchy of who is ready to step into the next tier.
For Chicago, the bigger challenge now is ensuring the WR3-to-WR5 battle remains fluid despite the early exit.. As the Bears finalize training-camp rotations. the remaining group will likely be pressed to prove they can handle both depth snaps and the broader passing responsibilities that emerge when key offseason departures occur.
Misryoum
Chicago Bears Squirrel White reserve/retired list NFL training camp Zavion Thomas Rome Odunze D.J. Moore trade