Two years ago, the Chicago Bears made Caleb Williams the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He predictably had some rookie struggles, but with the arrival of coach Ben Johnson and receiver Luther Burden III in 2025, the Bears improved to ninth in scoring.
But after trading D.J. Moore, the Bears are expected to lean more on Burden as he enters his second season. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old has now been hurt at Bears training camp.
Luther Burden III’s Injury Tests Chicago Bears’ Depth
When the Bears agreed to trade Moore, plus a fifth-round pick, to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a second-round selection, the belief was that Chicago would add another receiver to help offset his departure.
Chicago did add a familiar face whom Coach Johnson knows well in former Detroit Lions receiver Kalif Raymond. They later spent a third-round pick on Zavion Thomas, but he’s no sure thing.
While Burden, who ranked third on the team in receptions and fourth in receiving yards last season, was expected to see a heavier workload in 2026, now that plan is in danger.
During Saturday’s practice, Burden was seen limping off the field with one of the Bears’ medical trainers. Naturally, no one wants to see injuries.
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Jeff Mueler, a doctor of physical therapy, managed to uncover a clip in which Burden’s injury appeared to occur, and he gave his own analysis.
“Most will point out the Left Achilles/step back but I do think he got his knee back fast enough where we don’t need to be concerned there (I’m hopeful),” Mueller wrote. “It honestly looks like he took a shot to the family jewels but not sure that would cause him to limp the way he did into the locker room.”
“Hard to tell exactly how hard Burden planted on his left leg, so difficult to say if it’s intra-articular (meniscus, etc) or not,” Mueller added. “Tyrique landed more on Burden’s right leg than his left though, so I’m not really concerned about an MCL/ACL or high ankle on the left side as of now. Possibly a groin injury or a simple shot to the 🥜? Seems not too bad by video.
We have video! (s/o @benjiiiiiii12)
Luther Burden – Most will point out the Left Achilles/step back but I do think he got his knee back fast enough where we don’t need to be concerned there (I’m hopeful).
It honestly looks like he took a shot to the family jewels but not sure… https://t.co/U2YQlMIYLl pic.twitter.com/1FyjBKkMF4
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 8, 2026
It’s hard to tell from the video exactly what the nature of Burden’s injury is, but one person stated they believed he could be dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Hamstring is a possibility as well, not sure they’d make him walk back if it was a knee injury,” Line Em Up Sports wrote on X.
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Burden’s incident caused Barstool’s “Big Cat” to go to social media to post, “Training camp is the worst! Turn injuries off.”
Training camp is the worst! Turn injuries off https://t.co/8lYDPE4kUL
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 8, 2026
If only this were a Madden simulation, where injuries could be turned off during the preseason, but that’s just not the way real life works.
Meanwhile, Davis Mattek from Flock Fantasy on X took a more pessimistic approach, suggesting the timing of the injury isn’t as bad.
“Obviously, we are all going to lose anyway, so I prefer this to happen before the start of the season as opposed to Worthy dying on the first play of the actual season itself,” he wrote.
Obviously we are all going to lose anyway so I prefer this to happen before the start of the season as opposed to Worthy dying on the first play of the actual season itself https://t.co/uxxQwNgEjC
— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek) August 8, 2026
After Burden was limited to 15 out of a possible 17 regular-season games last season, one commenter pointed to his durability as something that’s holding the former second-round pick back from a true breakout season.
“Luther is a rugged player,” NFL writer Patrick Daugherty said. “Percy Harvin-esque. It’s what made him so good at Mizzou, but also what’s stood between him and true greatness thus far.”
Luther is a rugged player. Percy Harvin-esque. It’s what made him so good at Mizzou, but also what’s stood between him and true greatness thus far https://t.co/rjvRahf0sT
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) August 8, 2026
Meanwhile, another NFL writer, John Frascella, chastised Bears general manager Ryan Poles for “poor roster construction,” believing this team isn’t equipped to lose a player of Burden’s caliber.
“I’m a big Luther Burden guy. Had him ranked higher than basically everyone, a day before the 2025 NFL Draft. So I’m rooting for the kid, and I hope this injury is nothing. BUT… And a key but, I have been saying this all Offseason: Ben Johnson & Ryan Poles are putting TOO MUCH PRESSURE on Burden and Colston Loveland this season,” Frascella said. “Weapons aren’t deep enough. Roster isn’t deep enough. Guys get hurt. Second-year players get hurt. Just very poor roster construction with no weapon depth.”
With Rome Odunze, Loveland, and Burden, the Bears’ top trio of targets is obvious. Yet, as Frascella noted, maybe it’s time to add more depth to the position.
