The mystery behind the Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III's soft tissue injury recovery has made some fans in the Windy City nervous. They can breathe a sigh of relief now.
Burden was seen on the practice field for training camp for the first time after missing the first four practices due to the injury. It had been mentioned in the previous days by Bears head coach Ben Johnson that he was close to returning, and it finally happened.
Luther Burden is back and he’s participating in individual drills
— Bears on CHSN (@CHSN_Bears) July 28, 2025
(Way back there, we promise) pic.twitter.com/vTWIYgQUeN
Chicago selected Burden in the second round of the NFL Draft in April and was the last player from the draft class to sign his contract. While he had been seen on the field during the offseason, Burden had been dealing with that soft tissue injury that kept him from fully practicing with his teammates.
What does it all mean for Burden the rest of training camp and into the 2025 season?
Many have projected Burden to be a starter on the team as he will line up in the slot. It may be a bit before he gets all the starting reps as he has missed a good portion of time so he still needs to learn the offense and get into rhythm with his new quarterback Caleb Williams.
Veteran receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is expected to compete with Burden for the starting slot receiver spot. Burden could learn a lot from Zacchaeus, as his years of experience in the NFL have helped him with staying on the field.
Burden's return couldn't have come at a better time with all the offensive struggles from the first week of training camp for the Bears. He has a chance to showcase his dynamic skills and demonstrate why he should be considered a future star in the offense.
Read more: These Bears must stand out to coaching staff in second week of training camp
It'll take time to see what Burden can do in his NFL career, but it's a refreshing look to see him finally on the field and practicing when the team needs him the most.