Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson addressed the media before practice on Thursday, and he delivered rather dour news for the early portion of training camp. The Bears were without several players on Wednesday, and one of them, Luther Burden III, could be out for a bit longer.
Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is “weeks” away from joining his teammates on the field due to a leg injury. Rookies Shemar Turner (ankle) and Zah Frazier (personal) remained out Thursday.
Burden’s absence, though, remains a source of intrigue.
Bears WR Luther Burden III Remains Sidelined WIth ‘Soft Tissue’ Injury
Luther Burden III Sidelined Since Rookie Minicamp
The Bears selected Burden with the No. 39 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, drawing praise for landing a player many believed was a first-round talent. Burden made it through two practices during rookie minicamp and has not been so much as seen by the media since.
Burden was part of the league-wide holdout among second-round picks, but he followed closely after Turner and fellow second-rounder Ozzy Trapilo, landing a historic, fully guaranteed deal.
He has also talked about the Bears’ season opener during a Twitch stream with Colston Loveland.
Johnson said before the Bears went on break following the offseason program that he was expecting Burden to be ready to go for training camp. On Thursday, Johnson noted that the issue is “lingering,” but he remains “hopeful” that Burden will return soon.
Luther Burden III Sidelined After Practice Habits Questioned
For Burden, it is an unfortunate beginning to his Bears tenure, as the rookie has already missed “a lot,” according to his head coach, who reiterated those sentiments on Thursday.
The rookie entered the league amid concerns about his practice habits and “diva” attitude.
However, Johnson said that they have done all of the physical work that they can with Burden, who, like Johnson, is rehabbing at the team’s facilities. Johnson cited wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El’s work with Burden during this time, too.
The Bears have DJ Moore and Rome Odunze at the top of their depth chart, but things are far less imposing after that.
Olamide Zaccheaus is a reliable slot option, but likely little more than that.
How quickly the Bears can get Burden, not only back on the field, but also up to speed, will be paramount to determining how his rookie season goes. So far, Burden finds himself well behind his Bears teammates, some of whom would readily take his projected role and roster spot.
Burden is not in danger of losing the latter, but earning the former will only grow more challenging the longer he remains out.