Luther Burden Should Return For Training Camp

What They're Saying

Here's more from Johnson, who explained the impact of Burden's missed practices.

“He misses a lot,” Johnson said via The Athletic. “I mean any time you’re not out there, if you’re in the training room when the rest of the guys are practicing, you’re losing valuable time, valuable time with your coaches, valuable reps with your teammates; the ability to build the trust that we’re talking about.

“It’s not just the coaching staff having trust in you doing the right thing over and over, but also your teammates. They’ve got to see you do it. They’ve got to know the guy right, left of them, that they’re gonna do the right things and they’re gonna make the plays when called upon. So yeah, I think it’s for everybody, and it’s a shame that he got dinged up and missed all that time, because for a young player it’s really where you get the most reps and you can get better in a hurry that way.”

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Burden will now play catch-up in training camp, where he'll compete for targets alongside D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and fellow rookie Colston Loveland.

One area to watch: Loveland's health, as he'll return from a shoulder injury. Johnson wouldn't commit to Loveland being a "full go" for the open of training camp, per The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain. Both guys figure to compete for targets in the short to intermediate range this season.

Ultimately, Burden sits outside the top-50 of our WR rankings.

Injury Impact: Estimated Return Timeline & Performance Upon Return

While Burden should return for the start of training camp, expect the Bears to proceed with caution. Don't be surprised if his rookie season starts slowly.