The Chicago Bears' latest training camp practice was about as timely as you can get. After being called out for a rough outing Wednesday, Ben Johnson's offense put on a show Thursday.
Specifically, rookie wide receiver Luther Burden was a highlight of the practice. Burden looked fully back from his soft tissue injury and was making plays all over the field. Following practice, he had this to say in his time with the media:
"Big-time players make big-time plays in the critical moments. I want to be a dependable person, any time of the game. I want everybody calling my number."
Luther Burden is saying and doing exactly what Bears fans expected as a top draft pick
This type of comment might come across as your typical cliché, but Burden happened to say these words after his best training camp practice yet. It was the first practice where folks in attendance were able to say, "Oh yeah. He's back."
There were several reports out of Bears camp that Burden looked outstanding, with some even saying he looked like the best receiver on the field. That's saying something, too, because Rome Odunze had a beautiful play of his own.
Burden looked solid in Wednesday's practice as well, but on Thursday, he reached an entirely different level. He was the hottest topic of the day, bar none. You don't have to look far, on social media, to see all of the fans' and reporters' reactions to his outing, either. They're all over the place.
So, let's go back to the quote from Burden himself. He labeled himself a big-time player. That's the kind of confidence you want to see out of a rookie. That's the type of confidence you want to see backed up on the field, too.
Training camp is the time to flash like this. When the preseason comes, you can have similar expectations. But, when the regular season rolls around, that's when we really want to see what he can do in this Bears offense.
To think that Chicago's offense might have three top-tier weapons at the wide receiver position is downright scary. This is all going to hinge on Caleb Williams putting it all together in Year 2, but if he does, it could result in unfamiliar territory: a Bears offense that runs up the scoreboard.
Read more: Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are already turning heads at Bears camp
What a world we'd all be living in.