Shaheen played in just six games during his second NFL season, hampered by a right foot/ankle injury in the preseason and a concussion that he suffered upon return to action in November. While Burton played in all 16 regular-season games before an unfortunate absence ahead of the wild-card game, the Bears never created a dangerous pairing with their tight ends.
The start of training camp in late July brings the Bears a fresh start for their hopes at tight end. The team is hopeful that Burton will be ready for action after an offseason procedure to repair a sports hernia, and Shaheen is expected to be healthy as he reports to Olivet Nazarene.
Related
The Bears need health from their top two tight ends, because they're lacking depth behind Burton and Shaheen.
Burton had a solid first season in Chicago, hauling in 54 receptions for 569 yards and six touchdowns. But many will remember his year for his sudden absence in the Bears' wild-card round playoff loss to the Eagles. It was later revealed Burton was dealing with the sports hernia.
Selected in the second round of the 2017 draft, Shaheen has just 17 career catches over 19 regular-season games. Injuries and inconsistencies have left the Bears still wondering what they have in him.
The son of longtime NFL assistant Kevin Gilbride Sr., the junior Gilbride is entering his second season coaching the Bears' tight end group.
The Bears set out to add dynamic weapons for coach Matt Nagy's offense, and it brought them to Burton on a four-year deal in March 2018. He joined Shaheen, who was selected in the second round a year earlier.
Despite his inexperience in a leading role, Burton showed the kind of consistency desired in his first season with the Bears. He had a reception in every regular-season game but one while creating the kind of mismatch Nagy had hoped to find.
But Shaheen couldn't do his part as injuries hampered his second NFL season. He suffered a foot/ankle injury in August and was on injured reserve into November. In his first game back, Shaheen suffered a concussion that kept him out another game. Shaheen had only five receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown in six regular-season games.
Then came the sudden injury to Burton, announced by the Bears late Saturday night before the wild-card game Sunday. He was held out with discomfort that was eventually revealed to be a sports hernia, an issue that was surgically repaired this spring. Without Burton, the Eagles had an easier time handling the Bears' other targets, notably Tarik Cohen.
It was a reminder for the Bears how their lack of depth at tight end is a major concern. The reserves behind Burton and Shaheen now include Braunecker, mostly a special-teams player, and Sowell, a converted offensive tackle. Dax Raymond is an intriguing undrafted rookie free-agent pickup.
But one injury could force the Bears' hand at a position lacking certainty in depth.
The nickname "Baby Gronk" arrived with Shaheen at the NFL level, carrying over from his days at Division-II Ashland University. The moniker stemmed from Shaheen's dominance at the lower level of football but has seemed to make him uncomfortable when it's mentioned around the NFL.
Shaheen has struggled to live up to his billing as the second-round pick that few projected him to be. Though he certainly looks the part of an NFL tight end at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, Shaheen has yet to emerge.
Shaheen will have the benefit of an opportunity this season given the Bears' lacking depth at tight end. If he's healthy, the Bears may finally gain a sense of what they have in Shaheen.
Nagy has already noted the differences he sees in Shaheen. Ultimately, it comes down whether Shaheen can stay healthy and how he can assert himself at game speed.