The Chicago Bears fell to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8, suffering their first loss since getting decimated by the Detroit Lions in Week 2. The Bears had been one of the hottest teams in the NFL, carrying a four-game win streak into play against the desperate, one-win Ravens. Unfortunately for Chicago, losing the game wasn’t their only setback: they also lost rookie Luther Burden III to an injury.
What’s the Latest on Luther Burden III’s Injury?
Burden left the game in the second half with a head injury. He was examined by medical personnel and was ruled out for the rest of the game. He is in concussion protocol, and his status for Week 9 is uncertain. It will depend on whether he can clear all the requirements to exit the protocol in time for the Bears’ next game.
The concussion protocol is taken very seriously in the NFL. Burden left Sunday’s contest with one catch for minus-1 yard and wasn’t cleared to return. With the danger of head injuries, all blows to the head are subject to examination under the protocol. His status will become clearer as the week progresses and injury reports are released.
The Bears are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. The Bengals are coming off a brutal loss to the New York Jets, who were winless until last week. The Bears will look to take advantage of a reeling Bengals team to help them keep pace in the tough NFC playoff picture.
Burden hasn’t been heavily involved in the Bears’ offense despite being their second-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft. He has 13 catches for 171 yards and one touchdown in seven games. He has had four games with only one catch and has never recorded more than four catches in a game.
He did have a career day against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, with three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. That accounts for most of his production in his rookie season. But he’s also sharing targets with D.J. Moore, an emerging Rome Odunze, and Olamide Zaccheaus. He needs to keep showing flashes to earn more reps, but right now, the focus is on getting through concussion protocol.
The Bears’ offense has been average through their first seven games of the season. They are the 16th-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact score with a grade of 74.7. Week 8 was the Bears’ worst offensive performance in terms of points scored. They will need to bounce back against a tough Bengals defense and will hope to have Burden available as another weapon against Cincinnati.
