The Chicago Bears have a promising new weapon.
Following some initial struggles, it now seems like Luther Burden III has finally turned the page.
According to a report by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the young wideout has drawn plenty of positive praise from his coaches lately.
#Bears rookie WR Luther Burden III has earned strong praise over the last week for the work he’s put in to grasp Ben Johnson’s offense, along with his attention to detail.
Several Chicago coaches tell me there’s no hiding Burden’s immense talent … it’s far better than where he… pic.twitter.com/AE4Exgl6WM
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 13, 2025
That’s a nice turn of events, considering that head coach Ben Johnson seemed to be pretty harsh with him earlier in the offseason.
He voiced his frustration with not having him out there because of injuries, and he later ejected him from practice after reportedly “chewing him out” over some missed assignments.
Even so, that may have just been because of the sky-high expectations he has for his young star.
The second-round pick is projected to have a prominent role in the passing game right out of the gate, with former No. 9 pick Rome Odunze also taking a leap in his second year next to Caleb Williams.
In three years at Missouri, Burden proved to be more than capable of handling the heat.
He left the program with a whopping 192 receptions for 2,263 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns, and he also had a streak of 34 consecutive games with at least one catch.
The Bears want to get back on track after another subpar year under Matt Eberflus, and bringing Coach Johnson along should be just what the doctor ordered to bring this offense back to life.
And if Burden proves to be as good as advertised, he could go on to be one of the biggest steals in his class.