Luther Burden III battles back from injury, climbing depth chart

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 7 hours ago

CHICAGO - During rookie minicamp, rookie receiver Luther Burden III suffered a soft tissue injury.

However, he was able to return to the field during training camp not long ago and is trying to do as much as he can to make up for the time he missed.

“Everyday I’m in the building, I’m just trying to learn, be a sponge and just get better each and every day. That’s the goal for me and everybody in this building … Just getting here early, going through walkthroughs with coaches, QBs early before practice, just diving really hard in my playbook. That’s all I can do,” Burden III said. “I got to know my stuff. He holds everybody to a high standard here and it’s great for us, great for the team and that’s a standard here … Big-time players make big-time plays in the critical moments. So, I want to be a dependable person any time of the game. I want everybody call on my number when it’s time.”

Coming out of college, Burden III expected to be a first round draft pick. However, he slid to the second round which allowed the Bears to draft him. It seemed his attitude may have been the reason for his slide.

Between that and the fact head coach Ben Johnson has stated explicitly that he is behind, it is no surprise to see him so far down on the depth chart. On Chicago’s first depth chart, he is listed as a third-string wide receiver.

Another contributing factor to him being behind may be the system he came from. At Missouri, Burden III primarily played in one spot. With Johnson’s offense, he is being asked to learn the entire offense conceptually.

The NFL is also a faster pace than college, which is possibly working against all of Chicago’s rookies, as only one tight end, Colston Loveland, is listed as a starter on this depth chart.

“Pretty much in Missouri (I was) probably (at) one spot. Here, I got to learn multiple spots. So, when you got (to) learn (a) new offense, (there’s) going to be bumps, not going to be sunshine everyday … I feel like the more reps you get, the better you going to be. You just got to get multiple reps at that. Repetition, repetition, repetition,” Burden III said. “I feel like I do everything in his offense. I’m just really trying to get my feet wet, get situated on the field and just learn my playbook really and I feel like everything else (will) take care of itself … It’s definitely fast, hearing the play call from the huddle, then have to process all that information and then go line up and actually execute. So, just got to be very detailed in your craft.”

In addition to learning a new offense, Burden III is also learning to play with a new number. Back at Missouri, Burden III wore No. 3. However, Chicago retired that number for Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. Nagurski was so prolific that he was a member of the NFL’s first Hall of Fame class. Thus, Burden III is now wearing No. 87. He is still getting used to it.

However, he also became the first player drafted No. 39 overall to receive a fully guaranteed contract, and he is grateful for that.

“I’m making 87 work right now. I’m making it work,” Burden III said. “It’s definitely a blessing, definitely earned. I’m truly grateful for (my fully guaranteed contract) and I want to get out here and prove to them why they gave it to me.”

Particularly as a freshman in college, Burden III got some action as a punt returner and even scored a touchdown as a returner. While Burden III likes to get the ball any way he can, including as a punt returner, he is not currently listed on Chicago’s depth chart as a punt returner.

“I definitely like returning punts. I like getting the ball anyway,” Burden III said. “So, whatever I (can) do (to) get the ball, I’m trying to get the ball.”