Bears' Luther Burden III sidelined with groin injury; team expects Week 1 return

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III suffered a groin injury during Saturday practice and is expected to miss the entire preseason, according to ESPN's reporting. The 22-year-old second-round pick, per unnamed sources cited by ESPN, is believed by the Bears to be available for the regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, though the team has not issued an official injury report or medical timeline confirming that assessment.

The injury occurred when Burden got tangled up with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson during the final rep of red zone one-on-ones. Burden was helped to his feet and received sideline treatment before finishing practice, though he pulled himself out of the 11-on-11 period.

Burden caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie last season. His absence from preseason work represents a loss of developmental time during the team's most intensive preparation period, when new receivers typically embed routes and timing with quarterbacks.

No official injury report from the Bears organization confirms the severity of the groin injury, whether imaging was performed, or details of Burden's recovery pathway. The team's belief that he will be ready for Week 1 comes from unnamed sources and has not been independently verified by the Bears organization itself. ESPN reported the injury details on Monday.

Receiver Zavion Thomas is also dealing with knee soreness after sustaining the injury during 7-on-7 drills on Sunday, but according to ESPN sources, it is not considered serious and he is not expected to miss significant time.

The validity of Burden's Week 1 return hinges on medical clearance from the Bears' staff. The team has not specified whether he will participate in non-contact drills or receive practice clearance before the opener.