The Chicago Bears are in the next phase of the offseason this week. OTAs first opened up on May 20 and got some early work in with head coach Ben Johnson.
Mandatory minicamp started today and will run through June 5 before the real action starts next month in training camp. Players are participating to get some reps in, but tight end Colston Loveland and Luther Burden won't be stepping on the field.
When speaking to the media, Johnson said Loveland, Burden, T.J. Edwards, and Kyler Gordon weren’t practicing due to various injuries.
Colston Loveland and Luther Burden Didn’t Practice in Day 1 of Minicamp
Loveland has been sidelined for a while after undergoing shoulder surgery in January to fix an AC joint problem in his right shoulder. That has sidelined him through rookie minicamp, the first phase of OTAs, and now minicamp.
Meanwhile, Burden suffered an injury to his midsection in a May 10 practice and is still fighting to get back on the field.
While it would be great to have these guys getting every rep they can ahead of the season, it isn't the end of the world. When training camp begins next month, that's when it starts to get worrisome if they aren't on the field.
They are both expected to have roles as rookies, and that shouldn't be a surprise. Loveland is a fluid and crisp route runner who owns sticky hands. At Michigan, he had 1,466 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, but he played in a run-heavy scheme.
Meanwhile, Burden is a shifty player with the ball in his hands. He can chew up targets on sweeps, drags, and screens, which all allow him to get that ball in open space. As a member of the Missouri Tigers, he had 2,263 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns.
Hopefully, they can return during minicamp or the second phase of OTAs next week. If not, training camp in July will be the next time fans will look to see if these guys step on the practice field.