After making the postseason in 2025, the Chicago Bears seem to have a strong foundation as they prepare for the 2026 season. However, the team received concerning news on Saturday when wide receiver Luther Burden III suffered a groin injury during the final rep of red-zone one-on-ones, and a new update has now emerged on his status.
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Burden suffered the injury after getting tangled with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson while the defensive back broke up a pass from quarterback Caleb Williams. Stevenson went down on his back and remained on the ground for several moments before eventually receiving help to his feet.
As for Burden, trainer Andre Tucker accompanied him as he slowly made his way off the field and into Halas Hall under his own power. However, he did not return to practice, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday, citing a source, that the WR “should miss a little bit of time.”
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz later provided a more concerning update on Burden’s situation.
“Bears wide receiver Luther Burden, who suffered a groin injury Saturday, is currently expected to miss about a month, sources tell CBS Sports,” Zenitz wrote. “The hope is that he’ll be back and available for Chicago’s season opener vs. the Panthers, per sources.”
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Initially, it appeared that Burden would be sidelined for only one or two weeks. However, the latest update could keep him out until just before Week 1, which will disappoint many Bears fans. The receiver had been one of Chicago’s standout performers throughout offseason workouts and training camp and is expected to play a significant role in the offense after the Bears traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills during the offseason.
Head coach Ben Johnson pointed to Burden’s athleticism and speed as the biggest traits that stand out when watching him on the field, and also drew a comparison to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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“St. Brown in Detroit, who I have a strong affinity for, he plays the game the same way. I feel that from Luther,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t a full-time starter for us a year ago, but the snaps that he did have, he’s got that competitive edge and desire to be great. It’s carried over into the spring and summer as well.
“He’s been a regular in our building, working with our strength staff. He wants to be the most conditioned player on the team. Wants to be one of the strongest receivers on the team and just continues to soak in all the knowledge.”
The Bears drafted Burden with the 39th overall selection in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The pick came as somewhat of a surprise to the wide receiver, who later revealed to ESPN that he had not had much interaction with Chicago during the predraft process.
However, Burden showed plenty of promise during his rookie season, recording 47 catches for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games. His performance earned him a 75.6 grade in PFN’s WR Impact Metric, placing him at No. 31 in the rankings.
