Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has missed the first two days of training camp. The rookie has yet to take meaningful reps this offseason after dealing with injuries in both OTAs and minicamp, and now head coach Ben Johnson is offering some clarity on his status.
Ben Johnson Addresses Luther Burden’s Injury Concerns
The Bears selected Burden with the No. 39 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping the Missouri product could emerge as a go-to target for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams this season.
But so far, Burden’s time in Chicago has been marked by setbacks. A hamstring injury during minicamp and an awkward fall on the ball in OTAs have kept the rookie sidelined for most of the team’s offseason practices.
Burden was expected to be ready for training camp but has missed the first two days of practice and has been listed as day-to-day by Chicago.
Concern has been growing over the rookie wideout’s status since many hope he can become a key weapon for the Bears this season. Now, head coach Ben Johnson has finally offered an update.
According to Johnson, while Burden has been absent from practice, the team is still gearing up for the season by quizzing him on the offense and keeping him involved during walkthroughs.
Ben Johnson on Luther Burden:
– Mentioned that Coach Randle El has been all over him in meetings, keeping him involved
– Burden is being quizzed nonstop
– QBs are pulling Burden off to the side during walkthroughsJohnson did say he is utilizing the time as much as he can, but…
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) July 24, 2025
While Johnson says the team is preparing Burden in every possible way, he also acknowledges that the rookie receiver cannot be fully ready without seeing full-speed on-field reps.
While it’s positive that Chicago’s staff is keeping the receiver mentally sharp, it’s unusual that no timeline has been given for his return to practice.
Johnson told the media that Burden’s missed time is due to a soft tissue hamstring injury suffered nearly a month ago during minicamp, and they expect him to return soon. However, it is somewhat concerning that he is still not ready to play.
Ben Johnson provides an update on Luther Burden’s soft tissue injury pic.twitter.com/GFJrqFdC6s
— Dave (@dave_bfr) July 24, 2025
Burden was a standout at Missouri, breaking out in his sophomore season with 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Although his production dropped significantly in 2024, his talent was enough for the Bears to select him early in the second round.
If he returns to practice soon, Burden is likely to start for Chicago in the 2025-2026 season. However, if the injury lingers, the status of his rookie year could become uncertain.
