Luther Burden III wasn’t supposed to start his NFL career rehabbing a muscle strain, but here we are. Chicago’s highly-hyped second-round pick has been out since early May with a soft tissue injury that no one wants to describe in detail, and it’s fair to ask whether he’ll be full-go when training camp rolls around. Head coach Ben Johnson says he will. NFL history says: we’ll see.
Let’s break this all down. From what we know (and what the Bears are keeping tight-lipped), to what the data says about injuries like this, and what it means for Burden’s odds of making a real impact as a rookie. Strap in.
The Situation: Mystery Injury, Missed Time
Burden went down during rookie minicamp in early May. Since then, he’s been a ghost. He missed OTAs (May 20-22, 27-30), mandatory minicamp (June 3-5), and the final rookie-only workouts (June 9-11). That’s six weeks of missed reps at the exact moment he needs them most. For a rookie WR, that’s not a setback — that’s a damn brick wall.
And the Bears aren’t giving us much. They call it a “soft tissue” injury, but won’t say where or how bad. Typical offseason secrecy, sure, but frustrating as hell. What we do know is that head coach Ben Johnson has called it a “significant number of reps being lost,” and stressed how critical it is for rookies to be on the field building chemistry and proving they can be trusted.
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Ben Johnson: Glass Half Full?
Still, Johnson has remained pretty damn optimistic. When asked flat-out if Burden would be ready for training camp, Johnson didn’t hedge. He just said, “*He will. Yes.*“
It wasn’t a coach buying time. He’s repeated the same thing in multiple interviews: Burden should be full-go by late July. The rehab is on track. No setbacks. It all sounds good. But remember: coaches aren’t doctors, and they aren’t clairvoyant. We’ve seen enough cases where “should be fine” turns into “starts on PUP.”
NFL Injury History Paints a Murkier Picture
We still don’t know exactly what Luther Burden’s injury is — the Bears have been tight-lipped, calling it only a “soft tissue” issue. That label could mean anything from a mild quad tweak to a borderline muscle tear. But if we’re playing the odds, hamstrings are the most common culprit.
Soft tissue injuries are tricky. According to a comprehensive study by STRIVE, research shows hamstring injuries alone average about 13 missed days. But averages lie. Some guys miss a week. Some miss two months. Some end up on IR because the muscle just never gets right.
Look at Nico Collins. Hurt his hamstring in October 2024, and it looked minor at first. But he ended up on IR, missing four games. Or Christian McCaffrey, who dealt with a nagging calf strain for an entire season. These things linger if you rush them.
One recent study by Dr. Edwin Porras, found that 41% of NFL players with hamstring injuries return in less than a week, another 41% return in 1-3 weeks, and 18% take longer. That’s in-season, when guys play through pain. Burden has the luxury of time — he should be 100% by camp. But it’s a big red flag that he’s already been out for 6+ weeks.
Hamstring Injury Recovery Times for NFL Players conducted by Dr. Edwin Porras
Context: Rookie WRs Can’t Afford to Miss Time
This isn’t just about being healthy. It’s about being ready. Burden isn’t a luxury pick — he’s supposed to be part of the new-look Bears offense with Caleb Williams slinging it. But he’s way behind the curve now. While DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are building timing with the new QB, Burden’s doing resistance bands in the training room.
And Johnson has said it bluntly: this time off the field matters. Reps = trust. Trust = targets. No coach is dialing up red-zone plays for the guy who just got cleared last week.
The Timeline: 10-11 Weeks to Training Camp
If Burden gets cleared by late July, he’ll have had about 10-11 weeks of rehab since the injury. That’s more than enough for most soft tissue injuries — assuming he didn’t tear anything. The Bears’ conservative approach hints they want him fully healed before pushing it.
If all goes well, he gets a full camp, plus some preseason reps, and builds up toward Week 1 (Sept 8 vs. Minnesota). That gives him 6-7 weeks to recondition, learn the playbook at NFL speed, and prove he belongs in the rotation.
Expected Recovery Timeline for Soft Tissue Injuries
Long-Term Outlook: Youth On His Side
The good news? Burden’s just 21. Younger players recover faster and re-injure less often. He has no reported history of soft tissue injuries. And since the Bears didn’t try to rush him back for OTAs, they’re probably playing it smart.
The risk comes if he pushes too hard too soon. Soft tissue recurrences spike in the first 1-2 weeks after return. In that same study by Dr. Edwin Porras found 23% of re-injuries happen within that window. If Burden hits the field in late July and tries to prove himself immediately, he better be 100%.
Final Verdict
Ben Johnson says he’ll be ready. The timeline says he could be. The data says soft tissue injuries are dicey. So here’s the real question: even if he’s cleared for camp, can he catch up and earn a role?
That depends on how fast he learns, how sharp he looks, and whether that leg holds up. The Bears don’t need him to be WR1. They need him to be reliable. A guy who earns snaps and doesn’t reinjure himself by mid-September.
If that happens, he’s still got a shot to make noise this season. But the clock is already ticking, and the Bears won’t wait forever.