The Chicago Bears are entering their second week of training camp, and expectations are sky high as Ben Johnson puts his stamp on his first preseason as the head coach in the Windy City.
With the additions made to the roster this offseason by Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles, Bears fans have plenty to be excited about as this group moves closer to the start of the preseason. One of those new additions took the practice field for the first time during training camp on Monday, and his presence should provide Chicago's offense with another boost.
Bears Rookie WR Burden III Joins Camp After Missing Weeks of Practice
The Bears have built an impressive wide receiver room for Caleb Williams to work with. The most recent addition to that group, second-round pick Luther Burden III, took the practice field on Monday for the first time since Chicago opened camp, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
As #Bears get going this morning, rookie WR Luther Burden is on the field. He missed the first 4 practices with a lingering hamstring injury.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) July 28, 2025
Burden was an elite high school recruit who decided to stay close to home at the University of Missouri despite having his choice of any program in the country as a five-star prospect. Chicago landing him where they did in the second round could ultimately be a steal, as his upside at the NFL level should be greater than what we saw during his collegiate career, given the enhanced talent around him.
With Burden joining a wide receiver room that also features the likes of D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, the passing game in Chicago could be something special this season. The fact that the Bears also boast a pair of high-quality tight ends in Cole Kment and 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland will only open up more opportunities for Burden and the wideouts to avoid double coverage on the outside, opening up the possibility for chunk plays downfield.
The former SEC star has previously stated that he plans to make every franchise that passed on selecting him in the 2025 NFL Draft pay for their decision. Now that he is back on the field and healed up from the hamstring injury he suffered during the team's rookie minicamp earlier this offseason, Burden can get to work with Williams and the rest of his new teammates to achieve that goal.
The Bears' wideout won't have to wait much longer to put one of those teams that passed on him in their place, as Chicago is scheduled to open up the preseason against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 10 at Soldier Field.