Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss the preseason after suffering a groin injury in practice, but the team believes he should be back for the regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
Burden, 22, suffered the injury during Saturday's practice when he got tangled up with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson on the final rep of red zone one-on-ones.
Stevenson landed on his back and lay on the ground for several moments in visible pain. He was helped to his feet and received treatment on the sideline before eventually finishing practice despite having to pull himself out of an 11-on-11 period.
Burden, a 2025 second-round pick, caught 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie last season.
Receiver Zavion Thomas is dealing with soreness in one of his knees that he injured during 7-on-7 drills on Sunday, but it's not considered serious and he isn't expected to miss much time, a source told ESPN.
