Chicago Bears receiver Luther Burden III is expected to play in Week 1 after recovering from the groin injury that kept him out of the preseason. Burden is positioned to face the Carolina Panthers without an official injury designation. The remaining question is how much the Bears will use him after he missed the entire preseason.
Burden suffered the groin injury during an Aug. 8, 2026, Bears training camp practice. The young wideout got tangled with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson during a red-zone one-on-one drill before leaving the field with trainers.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Burden was expected to miss preseason action. The same report indicated that Chicago expected the second-year receiver to be ready for Week 1 at Carolina.
Chicago received its first major sign of progress on Aug. 26, 2026, when Burden returned to practice for the first time since the injury. The return gave Burden limited time to regain his rhythm before the regular-season opener.
Burden continued working toward the opener the following week. The receiver was seen running routes at practice, showing that the groin issue was no longer preventing him from participating in offensive work.
Johnson provided the strongest public assessment of Burden after Chicago’s preseason finale against Tennessee. Asked directly about the receiver’s condition, Johnson responded, “He looks 100%.”
Chicago’s official injury report also does not list Burden among the players carrying an injury designation for Sunday’s game. The Bears injury report therefore shows that Chicago is not officially identifying the groin issue as a limitation entering Week 1.
The absence of a designation is not formal medical clearance, but Johnson’s assessment indicates the injury will not keep him out.
Burden’s availability gives quarterback Caleb Williams another dynamic option alongside Rome Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland. The bigger issue now is whether Chicago immediately gives Burden a starter-level workload or eases him into the offense.
Burden showed enough as a rookie to make an expanded role one of the Bears’ more interesting offensive developments. He finished 2025 with 47 receptions for 652 yards and two touchdowns on 60 targets across 15 games.
Those numbers came with a limited role, as Burden played only 39.7 percent of Chicago’s offensive snaps and participated in 44.6 percent of its routes, according to his usage metrics. A larger role could give the former second-round pick an opportunity to improve significantly on his rookie production.
DJ Moore’s offseason departure also creates additional targets in Chicago’s passing game. Moore finished 2025 with 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns on 83 targets before the Bears moved on.
Burden does not automatically inherit those opportunities, with Odunze and Loveland also positioned for significant roles. The official Bears depth chart lists Burden as a starting wide receiver alongside Odunze, giving him a clear path to meaningful snaps.
Fantasy managers can treat Burden as available for the opener, although the missed preseason creates uncertainty about his initial workload. Deeper-league managers can view the second-year receiver as a flex option with upside, while managers in shallow leagues may prefer to wait for a clearer indication of his route share and snap count.
CBS Sports ranked Burden as a Week 1 option because of his matchup with Carolina. Odunze’s availability could also influence Burden’s opportunity distribution, making Chicago’s receiver rotation an important factor for fantasy managers.
Burden’s groin injury is no longer the central concern. The real question is whether Chicago trusts Burden with a normal starting workload. His snap count and route volume will show how quickly the Bears expand his role. Johnson’s “100%” assessment removes the injury concern without guaranteeing a full workload. The Carolina matchup should provide the first meaningful evidence of Burden’s role in the offense.
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