Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III sidelined with groin injury

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss approximately one month following a groin injury sustained during practice on Saturday. The injury will cause him to miss the remainder of training camp and the entire preseason, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports on Sunday.

The organisation has expressed hope that Burden will be fit for the Week 1 regular-season matchup against the Carolina Panthers on 13 September. A previous report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated Burden would miss time, though no clear timetable was given at that stage.

Burden, a 22-year-old second-round pick out of Missouri, recorded 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie 2025 season. His efficiency in the second half of the season was notable; his 17-game pace from Week 10 onwards would have seen him surpass 1,000 receiving yards.

Per Pro Football Network, he led the NFL with 4.6 yards of separation per catch and tied for the second-most yards after catch per reception among wide receivers with 7.1. The team views the injury as having little to no effect on his availability for the regular season, given the alternative.

The exact timeline for Burden’s return is subject to change, although the current expectation is a Week 1 availability. It remains uncertain whether the injury will have any effect on his availability for the regular season beyond the initial hope for a Week 1 return.