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San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White has opened up about the difficult recovery from a gunshot wound to his right ankle. White was shot during an altercation at a San Francisco nightclub in the early hours after Super Bowl 60. The injury fractured his talus bone and required surgery, with doctors inserting two screws into his ankle. “It’s different because it’s trauma instead of just, like, breaking an ankle with a sports-related injury,” White said, via The Athletic. “When you hurt yourself in football, there’s a protocol for damn near everything.” Then he said, “Football players don’t just get shot every day,” while mentioning, “I mean, I guess they do on this team,” referring to another incident involving wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. MORE: Von Miller gives ‘free chicken for life’ to Cowboys teammate for jersey number White, 27, tried to keep the situation light despite the severity of the injury. He said he was joking while being taken to the hospital and did not realize he had been shot immediately. Still, he clearly said the incident remains unusual, “But, yeah … it’s not a normal thing, getting shot.” The recovery demanded significant work. White spent much of the offseason in physical therapy before beginning his regular training program. He said he’s “taking it a day at a time,” and that he feels “pretty good right now.” Keion White’s return comes at important time for 49ers White’s return to practice carries added importance because San Francisco enters the season with several defensive ends dealing with injuries. Mykel Williams is out with a knee injury, while Nick Bosa is expected to face a snap limitation. Sam Okuayinonu and rookie Romello Height have also dealt with injuries, increasing the need for White’s availability. His ability to play both outside and inside makes his presence crucial. White joined the 49ers after being traded from the New England Patriots last season. San Francisco liked his versatility and thought he could fit better in its scheme. MORE: Daejon Love mug shot revealed after fraud arrest for impersonating 49ers player The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defender can set the edge and move inside on passing downs. That versatility should matter even more if injuries continue affecting the defensive line. Luckily, the incident was not that traumatic for White, who said, “Mentally, I was cool. Like, I wasn’t really mentally traumatized or anything like that.” White enters the 2026 season as an important piece of San Francisco’s defensive rotation. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —