The Chicago Bears secured arguably the steal of the NFL draft by selecting wide receiver Luther Burden III out of Missouri early in the second round (No. 39 overall), but the team got some unfortunate news on him Saturday.
Burden was participating in rookie minicamp at Halas Hall on May 10 when he caught a pass deep down the field and landed awkwardly. According to a report from 670 The Score in Chicago, Burden may have suffered an "injury to his midsection."
"Burden hauled in a deep pass down the sideline toward the end of the Bears’ second practice of rookie minicamp while landing awkwardly on his side," Chris Emma reported. "It wasn't immediately clear whether he felt discomfort or suffered an injury."
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Matt Bush-Imagn Images
The team afforded media members access to new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle following the conclusion of the practice, though he referred their questions about Burden's health status to head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson did not speak to reporters on Saturday.
However, the last time Johnson did speak about Burden in any context, he raved about the 21-year-old's physical abilities. Burden figures to be the frontrunner to win the team's No. 3 receiver spot and start in the slot alongside veteran DJ Moore and second-year pass catcher Rome Odunze on the outside.
Matt Miller of ESPN dubbed Burden the steal of the 2025 draft, calling him the second-best receiver behind Travis Hunter, who Miller classified in a different category since the No. 2 overall pick may play both wideout and cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie in 2025.
Burden finished last season with 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns after producing 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns at Missouri the year before.