After reports that he is struggling to find confidence, Kevin White is fighting back on and off the field for the Chicago Bears.

Kevin White hears and reads what people are saying about him.

He knows that Chicago Bears fans doubt whether or not he’ll be more than a bust. And he knows that, after some slow moments in camp, people believe that he lacks the confidence to perform at a high level.

So when Bears receivers coach Zach Azzanni mentioned that he has been showing White film of his dominant final year at West Virginia to help remind him how dominant he can be, the sharks started circling. Was White really that down on himself because of two serious injuries and general fan unease?

White certainly doesn’t want you to get that impression:

Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.. — Kevin White (@mrkevinwhite) August 2, 2017

And at practice yesterday, he came out swinging.

White on the Rise?

Amid the controversy about the film sessions, White responded with what has been described as his best camp practice yet. He caught multiple passes from both Mike Glennon and Mitch Trubisky, who operated as the second-string quarterback for the first time.

He got open early and often both in seven-on-seven drills and full team sessions, regardless of coverage or quarterback. And he showed glimpses of the fiery nature with which he played when he dominated in college.

Kevin White is having a good practice. He's been targeted early and often in 7-on-7 and full team. — Jeff Dickerson (@DickersonESPN) August 2, 2017

Trubisky's passes to Victor Cruz and Kevin White. pic.twitter.com/hlW56C5TbS — AJ (@AJDesai4) August 2, 2017

More interesting still, White struck back in a presser against the rumors that he needed a pick-me-up from coaches.

After delivering the expected line of “I really don’t pay attention to the outside noise”, White betrayed some irritation at Azzanni’s assertion that they watched film together to help his confidence.

For one, he mentioned that it was actually him, Kendall Wright and Victor Cruz watching old film together just to reminisce. Here’s what he said after practice, via Chris Emma of CBS Chicago:

“It was actually Kendall’s idea to watch each other’s college film since we had a little time off,” White said. “(We) watched mine, then watched Kendall’s, then watched Victor Cruz, when he was with the Giants. As far as that goes, that’s all I know.

In that same discussion, White also flatly denied any notion that he needed to be reminded of what he is as a player.

Sure, the press conference struck many as strange or slightly confusing. After all, why say you don’t care about outside noise when you’re definitely reading your own press clippings?

My take on it? I loved it. Because this is the Kevin White that has to show up for the Chicago Bears, for everyone’s sakes.

On one hand, he did show flashes last season of the monster he was in college. The ridiculously athletic Dallas catch and his game against Detroit before his injury immediately come to mind. In fact, that’s one of the endearing qualities about White as a player: he’s angry, aggressive and doesn’t surrender easily.

So far, though, because of injury, we haven’t seen enough of that guy. He looked lost early in the season with Jay Cutler at the helm, and he barely started to get going before missing most of 2016 with another broken leg. What we did see showed a player who hadn’t fully grasped the receiver position yet. He didn’t know the route tree, and he didn’t make some plays that someone of his caliber should.

If yesterday’s performance, both on and off the field, are any indication, however, that guy is still very much alive. And the Chicago Bears are going to need him to emerge more fully than he did last season. This makeshift receiving corps that will look mainly to him and Cameron Meredith to make plays. If he hits “continue” on his performance from Week 4 against Detroit, the Bears’ passing game could be better than expected.

In short, even if it takes him reading some negative stories, the Chicago Bears need an angry Kevin White with a chip on his shoulder. Because that guy can potentially change the course of the Bears’ offense, season and future.

By the way, in case you’ve forgotten what a rampaging White looks like, here you go:

Stay mad, kid.