Exclusive: 49ers Lineman Keion White Talks Rehab From Gunshot Wound

Keion White played in ex-teammate Mack Wilson’s charity basketball game last year, but on Saturday, he stuck to coaching.

The 49ers’ defensive end is still recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered during an alleged altercation with rapper Lil Baby and his entourage at a San Francisco nightclub in February.

White walked without a limp during the celebrity hoops event at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona. He dribbled a basketball casually at times, though socks covered the ankle wound, and White didn’t make any explosive movements.

After the game, White spoke with R.org about his recovery.

“I feel pretty good,” White said. “I’m just taking everything one day at a time and seeing where we are.”

When asked if he would be ready to participate at the start of training camp in July, White did not want to look that far ahead.

“I’m just going to take everything one day at a time and see where we are,” White said. “You can’t really focus on where you’re going to be. You have to focus on where you are.”

White, who was shot while attending a Super Bowl LX party and had emergency surgery the same day, was asked if he worried the injury could potentially be a major one when it happened.

“I’m just keeping positive spirits that everything is going to take care of itself,” White said. “I’ve been through injuries and everything.”

White was traded from the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers in October for a sixth-round pick.

He had 12 tackles, six quarterback sacks, and 1.5 sacks in nine regular-season games for San Francisco. White added four tackles and a sack in two playoff games.

A second-round pick of the Patriots in 2023, White is heading into the final year of his contract.

When asked if he’d like to put down roots and grow with a perennial contender like the 49ers, White sidestepped the question.

“Grow where you’re planted,” White said. “I’m just trying to be where my feet are and make the best of the situation where I’m at.”

White helped lead his team to victory in the basketball game.

He was happy to help raise money for the Make a Difference Foundation and show love to his former teammate Wilson after playing together in New England in 2023.

“He’s a really good guy,” White said. “My locker was right down the street from him on the Patriots. We built a relationship, and this is all about the community and giving support.”