The Chicago Bears might have scored 59 points in the season opener, but it wasn't the commanding performance fans were hoping for from Luther Burden. The pass catcher was looked at through the summer as the expected primary receiver and a clear breakout option based on his elite speed and clear chemistry with Caleb Williams. Last week's results were solid, but it was Kalif Raymond leading the way as the team's top receiver having four more targets than the talented Burden.
Still, Burden was able to produce 63 yards on five grabs, with one mistake resulting in Carolina creating a turnover. It wasn't the great performance fans were expecting and this could lead to a bit of doubt about what is ahead. With this in mind, fans should realize it is an incredibly small sample size and all of the points setting expectations for a breakout season remaining.
Looking at how the offense played in Week 1 there is reason to believe in a few outliers including Raymond as the primary receiver. Carolina's corners were focused on slowing deep shots and not allowing Burden's big play ability to beat them. Still, the pass catcher offered solid numbers and left every reason to believe he is going to be the primary target moving forward.
D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai being so undeniably dominant in Week 1 is going to stick with opposing teams and force a higher level of respect that will open up bigger days for Burden and for Chicago when it comes to hitting deep shots.
Bears should continue to expect Luther Burden to enjoy breakout season despite underwhelming start to 2026 season
What makes the fit most interesting is the clear trust from both Williams and playcaller Ben Johnson. While the duo is going to take what the defense gives across the full season the Bears aren't going to have any problem getting big plays from Burden. The talented receiver simply is far too capable of finding open space.
Apart from Burden's speed, the receiver is an underrated route runner improving over the last year and gaining the respect of his head coach. There was a time Burden was compared to Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Detroit Lions star, who helped Johnson's Lions offense explode and gain traction to eventually land the Chicago job.
With this in mind, there simply is no way around the fact that Burden should remain the favorite to enjoy a breakout season. Rome Odunze is extremely talented, but doesn't appear to have the capability of offering the consistent big-play impact of Burden. No question, momentum is just starting for a receiver still poised for a breakout year.
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