The Chicago Bears are dealing with an injury to wide receiver Luther Burden III, and have moved on former Green Bay Packers prospect Julian Hicks as a temporary replacement.
The good news is that reports on Burden are that his groin injury is relatively minor, and that he will miss about a month–i.e., the preseason. Chicago hopes he is back in time for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
In the meantime, they need more help with everyone moving up the depth chart.
Bears Eye Ex-Packers WR Julian Hicks
Julian Hicks on Bears’ Radar
“#Bears worked out former #Packers receiver Julian Hicks today, per a league source,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on August 10.
Hicks is a former undrafted free agent out of Akron. He had 34 receptions for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns combined in 2019 and 2020. Hicks posted a 72-1,139-17 line in two seasons at the University of Albany in 2022 and 2023.
He has yet to record any regular-season appearances, but he has been active over the past two preseason.
Hicks worked out for the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
The Bears still have Rome Odunze and newcomer Kalif Raymond alongside second-year former undrafted free agent Jahdae Walker. But rookie draft pick Zavion Thomas was banged up during Sunday’s practice.
Thomas did not participate in Monday’s walkthrough, per CHGO’s Adam Hoge. But, along with teammates Kyler Gordon and Montez Sweat and most of the team signs autographs for fans.
Per Hoge, Burden and Thomas did not appear to be too much worse for the wear.
The Bears will need some help to flesh out their wide receiver room for as long as Burden and Thomas are sidelined. But their absences, however brief, are opportunities for others to step up. They can show that they can be contributors for the Bears this coming season.
Players like Kaden Davis and Scotty Miller show well in practice on Sunday. The veterans could be names to monitor throughout the exhibition slate.
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