Bears Dodge a Bullet: Burden III Sidelined for Preseason, But Week 1 Is the Goal

What Happened to Burden?

The Chicago Bears just caught a massive scare, but the sky isn't falling—yet. Sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter that wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss the entire preseason after pulling a groin muscle in practice. But here's the silver lining: the team believes the second-year playmaker will be good to go for the regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Burden, 22, got tangled up with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson during the final rep of red zone one-on-ones on Saturday. Stevenson was the one who hit the turf hard—landing on his back and staying down for a scary few moments. He needed help getting up, got worked on the sideline, and gutted it out through the rest of practice, though he had to sit out an 11-on-11 period.

Bears Breathing Easy?

As for Burden, the injury could've been way worse. The 2025 second-round pick exploded onto the scene as a rookie, hauling in 47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns. Now he's on the shelf for the exhibition slate, but the Bears are playing it safe with their budding star.

Speaking of precaution, receiver Zavion Thomas is also banged up, dealing with knee soreness after a 7-on-7 session on Sunday. But per a source, it's not considered serious and he isn't expected to miss significant time.

So Bears fans, take a deep breath. The preseason might lack a little Luther magic, but the real show starts when the games count. Chicago needs its weapons healthy, and that's exactly the plan.