Luther Burden III missed the Chicago Bears’ win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 16, sitting out due to an ankle injury suffered the week before against the Cleveland Browns. But Burden has been a big part of the Bears’ offense in recent weeks.
That has been especially true amid the continued absence of Rome Odunze.
Burden shed his injury designation with a full practice session on Friday and spoke candidly about his uptick in production during that span.
Bears’ Luther Burden III Gets Honest About Role Before 49ers Game
Luther Burden III Hitting Stride for Bears
Burden got off to a slow start in his Bears tenure, missing most of the offseason program due to a hamstring injury. His talent was immediately evident when he was on the field, but missed time led to assignment errors that further delayed his ascension and ability to build his rapport with Caleb Williams.
He began behind Odunze, DJ Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus, a prized offseason free agent.
That was over the first 10 weeks of the season. Since the start of Week 11, though, Burden has usurped Zaccheaus in production and opportunities.
“Just getting more and more involved as the season go on,” Burden told Clocker Sports after practice on Friday. “Basically, I’m just trying to lock in, focus on everything I got to do to help the team.”
Over his last six outings, Burden has 23 receptions and 308 yards on 32 targets for the Bears.
He has added three rushing attempts for 21 yards. The Bears are 5-1 in those games, the last two of which have come without Odunze in the lineup.
Not coincidentally, Burden has a 10-151-0 line in those contests. He had 13 grabs for 171 yards and 1 TD on 15 targets over his first seven outings, but had a 3-101-1 line in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, skewing those averages.
As for his injuries, Burden chalked it up as “part of the game,” noting they were non-contact.
Bears’ Draft Luck Paying Off
The Bears spent a second-round draft pick on Burden this year. His rise in the pecking order was always expected, particularly for a player projected to go in the first round last April but who fell to the Bears with the 39th overall selection of the cycle.
Nevertheless, the light coming on for Burden as it has is as good a timing as the Bears could have hoped for.
Odunze is still rehabbing a stress fracture in his foot, which means resting. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he believes Odunze will play again at some point this season.
The question is when. In the meantime, Burden steps into an even larger role than he was beginning to garner a couple of weeks ago. A strong finish to the campaign for Burden could lend itself to a much faster start in 2026 or, more immediately, a breakout in this year’s postseason.