The Chicago Bears’ organized team activities have rolled on, but not without questions. While a few veterans and young faces have been absent, the continued absence of Luther Burden III hasn’t gone unnoticed. The rookie wide receiver, hailed as one of the most promising prospects in this year’s draft class, has yet to return to action since rookie minicamp.
Today’s practice brought no sight of Luther Burden III on the field, but head coach Ben Johnson did address his status during a post-practice media session shared on the Chicago Bears' YouTube channel. When asked about the rookie’s absence and potential readiness, Johnson gave a clear indication of the missed opportunity but ended on a reassuring note.
Luther Burden III
Luther Burden III
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‘They gotta be out there, they gotta see you do it. They gotta know that the guy right or left of them is gonna do the right things and make the plays when called upon,’ Johnson said. ‘So, yeah, I think it’s for everybody—and it’s a shame that he got dinged up and missed all that time. Cuz for a young player, it’s really where you get the most reps and you can get better in a hurry that way.’
When asked directly if Burden would be good for camp, Johnson replied, ‘He will. Yeah.’
Burden sustained a soft tissue injury during rookie minicamp in early May. That setback has sidelined him from veteran minicamp, mandatory minicamp, and OTAs. Still, the expectation is that he’ll be fully cleared by the start of training camp.
Despite the time missed, Burden is widely regarded as one of the steals of the draft. With explosive playmaking ability and sharp route-running, the potential remains sky-high. While he’ll need to catch up quickly, the Bears remain optimistic that the missed time won’t significantly impact his development.