With two preseason games in the books, I feel pretty good about rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Despite missing all of OTAs and the first week of training camp, Burden has been nothing short of impressive since getting on the field, and his two preseason performances have been the complete package that Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson wants out of his receivers.
Luther Burden has 78 yards on five catches in two games. That comes out to 15.6 yards per catch. It also comes with an average of 7.4 yards after the catch. Bears quarterbacks have put up a 118.8 passer rating when targeting Burden. And for good measure, the rookie wide receiver has been getting dirty with some big blocks in the rushing game. My Monday rewatch of the Buffalo game featured a handful of Burden mentions in my notebook, so let’s discuss his performance in Chicago’s victory against Buffalo on Sunday night.
Luther Burden III Stats (Preseason Week 2)
Snaps: 37 (43%) Targets: 3 Receptions: 3 Yards: 49 First Downs: 3 Touchdowns: 0 May 10, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver (87) Luther Burden III participates in rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesBurden: “If I get too much space, it’s going to be a problem.”
After the Bears’ victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III told reporters (h/t Twitter/X user @_MarcusD3) that he will be a problem for opposing defenses if he gets the ball in space. Buffalo defensive back Dorian Strong found that out first-hand on Sunday, when Burden put him on skates in the open field as he scampered up the sideline for a 21-yard catch and run for a first down from backup quarterback Tyson Bagent.
Check this out:
pic.twitter.com/qbna403CSc
— ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ (@Someone20241575) August 18, 2025That catch and run was Burden’s third of the evening on Sunday. His first came late in the first quarter when Chicago beat Buffalo’s zone look with a play action pass, leaving him wide open coming across the field on a deep crosser for a gain of 22 yards and a first down. Burden’s second reception came in the red zone, with the rookie lined up inside on a three-receiver set to Bagent’s left. Burden ran a whip route against a Buffalo zone and hauled in the catch against Tre Herndon, getting a step on the closing Herndon in short-yardage, enabling him to get past the sticks for another first down.
Luther Burden’s win in short-yardage set up a first and goal for the Bears, who capitalized with a touchdown pass to Tyler Scott in the back corner of the end zone. On that play, Burden ran a hard route and fought for positioning in the back of the end zone long after the play developed to the right side away from him.
First-year Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson said during the offseason that receivers would have responsibilities even when their numbers weren’t called. Those responsibilities include running routes all the way through to the end of the play (even when they’re not in the read). That is considered a non-negotiable in Johnson’s book. And the tape from Sunday showed that Burden got that message.
He also received the “no block, no rock” message from his new head coach
The other non-negotiable Johnson laid out for his receivers during the offseason was being a willing and engaged blocker in the rushing attack. Burden has done that plenty in two preseason games.
Luther Burden was on the field for 37 snaps against Buffalo. Eighteen of those snaps came as a run-blocker. Burden made the most of those snaps by earning a stellar 90.6 run blocking grade for his performance against the Bills, according to Pro Football Focus.
Here is a look at an excellent effort by Burden against defensive back Jordan Hancock on a rushing touchdown by running back Ian Wheeler:
Luther Burden III getting the job done in the blocking game Watch on FOXStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/K3XVWwjThh
— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2025That’s not your average wide receiver going through the motions and being a body on a block. That was Burden hitting a hole, cracking a safety backward, and then staying with his man through the whistle.
Here is another look at Luther Burden delivering another big block to safety Damar Hamlin on a Brittain Brown rushing touchdown at the goal line:
MORE: ROOKIE LUTHER BURDEN III MAKES AN IMPACT IN NEW AND UNEXPECTED WAYS
Another great block for Burden in the rushing attack here:
Back to back plays for Luther Burden1st play (Bottom of screen): Block2nd play (Top of screen): RockNearly every target for Burden was preceeded by a tough blocking assignment. And you cant convince me that wasn't by design from Ben Johnson to really hammer home that point pic.twitter.com/VlFVtQKM28
— Steve Letizia (Formerly CFCBears) (@CFCBears) August 18, 2025You get the point. Burden has been every bit as good a blocker as a receiver through two preseason games, and it looks like he is ready to be a weapon in Ben Johnson’s offense this season.
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