Burden enters 2026 as one of Fantasy's most polarizing receivers. The upside case for Burden is simple: After finishing 2025 red hot, Burden was already being talked up by head coach Ben Johnson during OTAs (given Johnson's history of reserving coach-speak, this is a big deal), plus his early training camp practices had reporters swooning since he has the potential to emerge in the coveted slot role that Amon-Ra St. Brown made famous in this scheme. The downside case for Burden began unfolding in an early August practice when he limped off and with a groin injury. Reports suggested he would miss several weeks but not necessarily the start of the season. Burden was always in a fierce target competition with Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland, but now both of those two Bears could be in line for more early-season work if Burden's recovery keeps him from having a full slate of reps in September. Fantasy managers will have to decide if they want to pay a WR2 price for the upside of finding the next breakout who may not be himself to begin the season. He remains one of the most popular breakout picks in 2026, one in which might come at a slight bargain after he was going as a top 50 pick before the groin injury.
Bears' Luther Burden: Coach optimistic for Week 1 availability
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Coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday that Burden (groin) is going to "hopefully" be ready by the start of the season, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Burden is already expected to sit out all three of the Bears' preseason games, but the hope is that the wideout will be available for the team's Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Panthers. In any case, based on the wording of Johnson's comments Tuesday, Burden isn't necessarily a lock to be ready for Week 1 action.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Set to miss preseason, should play Week 1
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Burden (groin) is expected to sit out all three of the Bears' preseason games, but the team believes the wideout will be available for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Burden sustained a groin injury during a 1-on-1 drill in Saturday's practice and will need around a month to make a full recovery, but the Bears are optimistic that he'll be able to get enough on-field work in prior to Week 1 to avoid missing any games that count. While the 2025 second-round pick is out for the rest of training camp and the preseason, the Bears will have added reps available at receiver behind Rome Odunze and Kalif Raymond. Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walkerand Scotty Miller are all candidates to see extra opportunities in the next few weeks as they compete for roster spots as depth options in Chicago's wideout corps. When healthy, Burden will have an opportunity to make a mark from a fantasy perspective in 2026, while operating as a key target for quarterback Caleb Williams in a Chicago passing attack that will also feature Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Expected to miss one month
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Burden (groin) is expected to be sidelined for roughly one month, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.
Burden suffered a groin injury at practice Saturday, and he is now set to be unavailable for the entirety of the preseason. The hope from the organization is that the wide receiver will be back and available for the Bears' regular-season opener Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Chargers. If Burden is forced to miss any regular-season action, offseason addition Kalif Raymond and third-round pick Zavion Thomas (undisclosed) would stand to see an increase in targets while operating opposite of No. 1 wideout Rome Odunze in Chicago's offense.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Will miss time with groin injury
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Burden is expected to "miss a little bit of time" due to a groin injury that he sustained during Saturday's training camp practice, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Burden picked up the injury after colliding with Tyrque Stevenson during a 1-on-1 drill in Saturday's training camp practice. It would not be surprising if Burden were held out of Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns, with an aim to return for the Bears' second exhibition contest against the Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 22. Kalif Raymond, rookie third-rounder Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Scotty Miller are poised to see more reps in team drills alongside Rome Odunze for as long as Burden is sidelined.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Exits practice with apparent injury
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Burden left Saturday's training camp practice due to a lower-body injury, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times reports.
Burden sustained the injury after colliding awkwardly with Tyrique Stevenson during a one-on-one drill in Saturday's practice. Burden went with a trainer to the team's facilities to undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury. The 2025 second-rounder has been a standout in offseason programs and training camp and is lined up for an expanded role in his sophomore campaign following the departure of DJ Moore, who was traded by the Bears to the Bills in early March.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Draws praise from head coach
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Speaking with the media Thursday, coach Ben Johnson said he's "buying Burden stock right now" after a strong start to the Bears' offseason program, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
"Yesterday, he had numerous explosive plays," Johnson continued. "I'm really happy with him." Burden has had one of the biggest hype trains of the offseason after Chicago traded DJ Moore to the Bills back in March. As a rookie last season, Burden averaged 2.69 yards per route run over 15 regular-season games, the highest mark for a first-year player since 2016, and only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba posted better yards-per-route numbers in 2025. With Moore out of the picture, Burden is expected to play in all two-wide sets alongside Rome Odunze this season. In one of the league's more explosive offenses, Burden's arrow is pointing upward in a big way.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Primed for key role
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Burden has less competition for playing time and targets after the Bears traded DJ Moore to Buffalo, Patrick Finley of The Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Burden would've been a popular 2026 breakout candidate even if the Bears had kept Moore, who was targeted on just 16.0 percent of his routes last season. Burden had a team-high 26.1 percent target rate while ranking fourth among all qualified pass catchers with 2.83 yards per route, but with a mere 41 percent route share across 15 regular-season games. His playing time and production improved as the season progressed, with Burden catching at least three passes in each of his final 10 appearances (including two playoff games). With Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons) no longer playing for Chicago, the passing attack figures to flow through Burden, WR Rome Odunze and TE Colston Loveland.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Quiet end to impressive rookie year
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Burden secured three of seven targets for 24 yards during Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams in the divisional round. He also ran the ball once for a gain of zero yards.
Burden drew the third-most targets of any Bears' skill-position player Sunday, trailing only Colston Loveland (concussion) and DJ Moore, but he struggled to get much going versus Los Angeles' stout defense and finished fifth on the team in terms of receiving yards. While Burden was relatively quiet in his two postseason showings, he's decidedly coming off an impressive rookie campaign. Across 15 regular-season appearances Burden tallied a 47-652-2 line on 60 targets, including two 100-yard games. He also rushed six times for 37 yards and compiled 223 yards as a kick returner. Burden's YAC ability, chemistry with Caleb Williams and fit in head coach Ben Johnson's offense promise to make him a popular Year 2 breakout candidate.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Targeted seven times in win
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Burden caught three of seven targets for 42 yards in the Bears' 31-27 wild-card win over the Packers on Saturday.
After a three-week hot streak in which Burden averaged six receptions, 96 yards and 0.3 touchdowns, the receiver has 42 yards or fewer in his last two games. However, his seven targets tied for the second most Burden has had this season, and his role remains secure heading into next week's divisional-round matchup.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Three catches in loss
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Burden caught three of four targets for 35 yards and rushed once for 10 yards in Sunday's 19-16 loss to Detroit.
Burden went without a catch in the first half before reeling in three passes after the break. The wide receiver was unable to build off of his recent momentum, recording his fewest catches since Week 12 and his lowest yardage total in four weeks. Burden will finish his rookie campaign having caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns while also turning six carries into 37 yards over 15 regular-season contests, and he'll now make his postseason debut in the wild-card round against the Packers next weekend.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Elevated role projected for Sunday
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Burden is in line to serve as the Bears' No. 2 receiver again in Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Lions due to Rome Odunze (foot) being ruled inactive for the contest.
Burden has taken ample advantage in the three games he's played during Odunze's current absence, posting an 18-289-1 line on 22 targets in that span. The rookie is coming into Sunday fresh off a career-best eight-catch, 138-yard, one-touchdown effort against the 49ers last Sunday night, and he'll look to exploit a Lions secondary that's been significantly impacted by injury.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Practices in full Thursday
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Burden (quadriceps) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Burden was limited in Wednesday's practice due to the quad injury he suffered on the last play of Chicago's loss to San Francisco in Week 17, and it now appears he's fully recovered in time for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Lions. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Rome Odunze (foot) remained sidelined at practice Thursday and seems an unlikely candidate to play Week 18, given that the Bears have already clinched the NFC North but do not have a path to claiming the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: WRs to Start
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We're keeping an eye on the injury report for the Bears leading up to Week 18 because we hope Burden will play after he was injured on the final play in Week 17 at San Francisco. We also want to see if Rome Odunze (foot) will play against the Lions. If Burden plays and Odunze is out then Burden is worth starting in all leagues. Against the 49ers, Burden was a star with eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and he now has at least 14.4 PPR points in each of his past two games. Detroit is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and D.J. Moore would be a high-end No. 3 receiver in all leagues as well if Odunze is out.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Burden (quadriceps) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Burden suffered what eventually was called a quad injury on the final play of this past Sunday's loss at San Francisco. Coach Ben Johnson told Chris Emma of 670TheScore.com on Wednesday that the Bears are "hopeful" that Burden will be able to play Sunday versus the Lions. Ultimately, how Burden fares in practice Thursday and Friday will determine if he enters the weekend with a designation for Week 17 action. Meanwhile, fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot) remained sidelined at practice, while Olamide Zaccheaus (illness) practiced in full, so the latter, DJ Moore, Jahdae Walker and Devin Duvernay are the healthy options at the position on the Bears' active roster.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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Burden (quadriceps) is expected to play in Week 18 against Detroit after getting hurt on the final play in Week 17 at San Francisco, and he should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues against the Lions, especially if Rome Odunze (foot) remains out. Burden was a star against the 49ers with eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and he now has at least 14.4 PPR points in each of his past two games. This is also a great matchup in Week 18 since Detroit is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Avoids major injury
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Burden is believed to have suffered a minor quad injury during Sunday night's 42-38 loss to the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Burden was injured on the final play of Sunday's game and had to be carted off the field, after the rookie second-round pick broke out with a career-high 138 receiving yards and one TD while securing eight of nine targets. He'll undergo further testing Monday, but it's encouraging that the team believes he avoided a serious injury. Chicago has already clinched the NFC North and can't claim the No. 1 seed in the conference and a first-round bye in the playoffs, so Burden could be held out as a precaution for the team's regular-season finale at home against the Lions in Week 18, regardless of the test results.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Hurt on last play after 138 yards
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Burden (leg) was seen grabbing his left hamstring on the way to the X-ray room after getting injured on the final play of Sunday's 42-38 loss to the 49ers, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.
Burden stayed down in the end zone after Caleb Williams threw an incompletion from the 2-yard line as Chicago came up just short in a back-and-forth battle. Prior to the injury, Burden posted a breakout performance, racking up career highs in catches (eight) and receiving yards (138) on nine targets, including a 35-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. The Bears have clinched the NFC North and will close out the regular season with a Week 18 home game against the Lions.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Set to play Sunday
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Burden (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game in San Francisco.
Burden sat out a Week 16 matchup with the Packers due to an ankle injury that he suffered one week prior against the Browns, but after getting back to a full practice Friday, he's in the clear for Week 17 action. With Rome Odunze (foot) still sidelined, Burden will be among the top WRs available to the Bears offense this weekend along with DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Limited in return to practice
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Burden (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
This marks Burden's first official on-field work since he suffered an ankle injury Week 15 against the Browns. He may need to upgrade to full participation Thursday or Friday in order to avoid a designation ahead of Sunday's game at San Francisco, but he appears to be a better bet to return to action Week 17 than fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot), who remained sidelined at practice Wednesday.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Yet to resume practicing
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Burden (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field Tuesday during the Bears' unofficial practice, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Burden was listed as a non-participant on all three of the Bears' practice reports in Week 16 before sitting out Saturday's 22-16 overtime win over the Packers. Rome Odunze (foot) was also sidelined for a third straight game, and with neither wideout logging any activity in an unofficial session Tuesday, both could be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game at San Francisco. If Burden and Odunze are both held out again in Week 17, DJ Moore would have a clearer path to added volume in the passing game after he contributed a 5-97-1 receiving line on seven targets in the win over Green Bay.
