The Chicago Bears didn't hide their disappointment that Luther Burden missed most of spring practices and the start of training camp with a hamstring injury. Head coach Ben Johnson admitted the missed time would hurt his ability to master the offense. He was behind everybody else. That reality showed up in the first practice back when Burden was removed from drills because he kept lining up wrong. Fans accepted the fact that it would probably take time before the rookie receiver made any meaningful impact.
That assessment proved premature. Just one day later, Burden was the clear standout of practice. His presence was felt across every drill, including two excellent plays in 11-on-11s. One was a catch-and-run over the middle that led to a touchdown. The other was a phenomenal grab in the end zone that was blown dead because he stepped out of bounds. Some questioned if replays would've shown him in. Regardless, the 2nd round pick didn't look out of place among the starters at all.
Luther Burden remains an absolute freak.
For him to hit full go after just two practices despite missing months of practice with a hamstring issue tells you how insane his talent is. His mix of size, speed, and route-running skills reminds you why he probably should've been a 1st round pick. The fact that he and Colston Loveland are already making plays is a huge sign for this offense going into the season. They have the highest ceilings of anybody on the roster. If both pan out, Caleb Williams could be destined for great things in the near future. Luther Burden controls his own destiny. Talent won't hold him back from dominating the NFL. It has always been about how much he wants it. If he puts in the work, no defense on the planet will stop him.
