The Chicago Bears might have another injury to worry about after watching one of their star wide receivers limp off the field during August 8’s camp practice.
According to The Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond, Bears star wide receiver Luther Burden III went down hard in Saturday’s practice after tangling up with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson during one-on-one drills and limped off the field with a trainer.
A spectator video also captured Burden gingerly limping into the locker room.
Burden is ascending to a full-time starting role with the Bears in 2026 following his impressive rookie season in 2025 and the offseason trade of veteran D.J. Moore, but an injury could slow his progression — especially if it winds up sidelining him at practice.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson did not have a scheduled media session with reporters after August 8’s practice and, therefore, didn’t have an update on Burden’s status.
The 2025 second-round pick and his condition should be the subject of inquiry when the team returns to the practice field and Johnson speaks on Sunday, August 9, though.
Luther Burden Injury Would Create Issues for Bears
Despite Burden suffering an apparent injury in Saturday’s practice and limping off the field before 11-on-11 drills, his overall status is currently unknown heading into Sunday.
If Burden is dealing with an injury that will cost him practice time, though, the Bears will need to start evaluating what their backup plans look like at the receiver position.
The Bears would still have three reliable pass-catchers for their offense if they had to play without Burden for a period of time. Rome Odunze, a 2024 first-round pick, has just as much claim to the No. 1 receiver role as Burden at this stage, while star tight end Colston Loveland will expectedly remain a primary passing target, as he did as a rookie.
There is also veteran Kalif Raymond, who joined on a one-year deal in free agency and has nearly 200 career receptions over his first nine NFL seasons, but questions persist for the remainder of the group, despite some encouraging showings early in camp.
Zavion Thomas, a third-round rookie, has generated buzz in camp with his playmaking ability and speed despite analysts originally casting him as a special-teams contributor, but he will need to have a complete handle on Johnson’s offensive system before the team will roll him out regularly — same as they did in 2025 with Burden and Loveland.
The Bears also have Jahdae Walker and veteran Scotty Miller in the mix for depth spots on the roster and could test them for more prominent roles. Walker showed promise as an undrafted rookie in 2025, catching a nice touchdown against the Green Bay Packers that pushed their second regular-season tilt to overtime — and helped the Bears win.
For now, the Bears can hold steady, but all eyes are on Burden’s unclear injury status.
Bears Can Test Other WRs if Luther Burden Misses Time
The Bears would have some planning to do if Burden’s injury situation turns serious and they are forced to find a backup plan for him to begin the regular season, just as they have needed to do with veteran safety Coby Bryant following August 3’s injury.
In the meantime, though, the Bears can turn their attention to the other wide receivers competing for depth spots on their roster and put them to the test for in-season roles.
The Bears have 11 wide receivers signed to their 90-man roster as of August 8, including five who are longshots to make the initial 53-man roster: Kaden Davis, JP Richardson, Maurice Alexander and undrafted rookie signings Omari Kelly and Kyron Hudson.
Richardson and Alexander might have the strongest cases to crack the 53-man roster after spending the 2025 season on the team’s practice squad. While neither played any snaps for the Bears despite each receiving a single elevation opportunity, they both have a year of learning in Johnson’s system under their belt, strengthening their roster fits.
Davis could also make some noise in pursuit of a roster spot (or a practice-squad role), bringing efficient kick return ability to the table. He averaged 27.5 return yards on 10 kickoff returns in five games for the Houston Gamblers during the 2026 UFL season, but he would likely need to outshine Miller as a returner to have a shot with the Bears.
Bears Star Wide Receiver Leaves Practice With Apparent Injury