Luther Burden III entered Chicago Bears training camp as one of the offense’s breakout candidates. One awkward landing shifted the conversation to whether he will be available when the games count.
The early outlook remains encouraging. Burden is expected to miss the preseason with a strained groin, but the Bears believe he has a chance to return for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers. He also took an encouraging step last week by doing light field work before Chicago’s preseason opener.
What Happened to Luther Burden III?
Burden suffered the injury during Chicago’s Aug. 8 practice on the final rep of red-zone one-on-ones. He became tangled with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson while trying to make a contested catch, landed awkwardly, and walked slowly off the field with a trainer.
ESPN reported Aug. 10 that Burden is expected to miss the preseason, while Chicago believes he should be back for the Sept. 13 regular season opener at Carolina. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz separately reported that Burden could miss about a month, which would put his return close to the start of the season.
The most recent visible sign was positive. Before the Bears hosted the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Burden worked on the field with trainers and was shown doing light jogging and short sprints.
Head coach Ben Johnson has not sounded alarmed. When the Chicago Sun-Times asked how much of an issue the injuries affecting Burden and several teammates presented, Johnson replied, “None. We don’t have issues with any of our injured guys. We’re going to be fine.”
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
That does not guarantee Burden will play in Week 1. Chicago has not publicly announced a firm return date, and Burden still has several weeks of recovery ahead. For now, though, the timeline continues to point toward the season opener rather than an extended absence during the regular season.
Why Burden’s Return Matters for Chicago
Burden’s absence is more noticeable because his role appeared ready to grow substantially in Year 2. Chicago traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills during the offseason, leaving Burden and Rome Odunze positioned to become two of Caleb Williams’ most important receiving options.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Burden caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns across 15 regular-season games as a rookie. He surged late, averaging 60.1 receiving yards over his final eight regular-season appearances and finishing with a career-best 138 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.
His efficiency was also reflected in PFN’s WR Impact Metric. Burden finished 2025 with a 75.6 WR Impact score, ranking 31st among qualifying receivers.
Johnson had been openly bullish on the former Missouri standout before the injury. In May, he said that he was “buying Luther Burden stock right now,” praising the receiver’s offseason approach and explosive ability.
Bears fans do not yet have a confirmed Week 1 green light. They do have an improving recovery picture and a player already moving on the field less than a week after the initial injury scare.
