Luther Burden III's career with the Chicago Bears got off to a somewhat slow start. Injuries kept him on the shelf early in the offseason, and head coach Ben Johnson called him out and even threw him out of practice once.
However, it was all coming from love. He knew what he was capable of, and he wanted to push his buttons and motivate him to make an impact right out of the gate. It took him a while, but once he took the training wheels off, he looked like a superstar in the making.
That's why, now that he'll have a full offseason to work out and is completely healthy, he wants to get off to the races from day one. After OTAs, he put other veterans on notice by talking about strengthening his chemistry with Caleb Williams.
Luther Burden III might be the Bears' WR1 in 2026
"It was great,” Burden said (h/t Mike Pendelton). “Because we’re off for a certain amount of time and you want to get back on the same page as your quarterback and get that chemistry back up and where it was from the end of the season. So we’re just looking to continue to make that growth. I’m just locked in every single day. Come here, ready to work, ready to get better, ready to get coached up, ready to win games."
The depth chart may show Rome Odunze as the Bears' primary pass catcher, but that may not last long. There are some concerns about his injured foot, and Burden's late-season breakout is impossible to overlook.
He's faster, shiftier, and more explosive than everyone else in the building, even ahead of Odunze or fellow second-year pro Colston Loveland. The Bears have a three-headed monster with those three young pass-catching stars, but all teams need a clear-cut go-to guy when things get tough, and that might be Burden.
Against all odds, the Bears added another rookie wide receiver to the mix, and Zavion Thomas is another explosive playmaker. That addition might signal even more concerns about Odunze's long-term outlook and health, thus leaving the door open for Burden to claim his spot as the top dog.
As expected, Caleb Williams made big strides from his rookie season in his first year under Ben Johnson's tutelage. That should continue to be the case after he learned a new system and terminology, especially with an improved supporting cast and his wide receivers also getting better.
This team didn't do much to improve their defense, and they might star in more shootouts than they would've wanted. That will only put even more pressure on Williams and the skill players, and with Burden's ability to leave defenders in the dust and pile up yards after the catch, these offseason reps might prove to be the difference between another playoff berth and going home early in 2026.
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