LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Bears rookie receiver Luther Burden III wasn't present Wednesday morning for the first practice of training camp.
Burden continues to mend a hamstring injury. He missed most of the offseason program with the injury. Coach Ben Johnson wasn't made available to reporters Wednesday for updates on injury statuses. General manager Ryan Poles didn't take questions from reporters Tuesday as players reported.
Johnson mentioned at the end of veteran minicamp in June that he expected Burden to participate at the start of training camp.
The No. 39 overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft, Burden was a standout at Missouri. He earned all-SEC honors twice at Missouri, hauling in 192 receptions and 21 touchdowns over three seasons.
Burden had a strong 2023 season, when he had 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. He had 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games in 2024.
Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland participated in practice Wednesday following a six-month recovery from shoulder surgery in January. The expectation is he'll have an acclimation period early in camp. Left tackle Braxton Jones also practiced Wednesday after recovering from ankle surgery.
The Bears will return to the practice field Thursday morning at Halas Hall.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.