LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- The status of Bears tight end Trey Burton is in doubt for the regular-season opener against the Packers on Thursday after the team revealed he's dealing with a groin strain.
Bears general manager Ryan Pace downplayed the injury, saying it's not related to Burton's sports hernia procedure in the spring. The team believes it's a day-to-day injury for Burton, who practiced in a limited fashion Monday afternoon.
Burton was sidelined for much of training camp and the preseason while recovering from his sports hernia procedure.
"We were smart with how we ramped him up through training camp, just with him not doing a lot of football activities over the summer," Pace said. "This is an unrelated, mild strain that we're dealing with right now We're hopeful. But it's going to be a day-by-day thing.
"We're hopeful that it's minor, kind of a day-by-day thing. It's a mild groin strain is what it is. We'll see where it goes from here."
Burton had 54 receptions for 569 yards and six touchdowns during in playing all 16 regular-season games in 2018. However, he appeared on the injury report late the night before the Bears played their wild-card game last January. He was then ruled out of what became the Bears' season-ending 16-15 loss to the Eagles.
Pace said later in January that an MRI revealed Burton had a "significant" groin injury. He later underwent a procedure to repair a sports hernia, which the Bears said was related to the January absence.
Days into training camp, the Bears sidelined Burton from practice with coach Matt Nagy explaining the team's focus for Burton was on the start of the regular season. Now with that week here, Burton finds his status in doubt.
The Bears will be relying on third-year pro Adam Shaheen as their leading tight end if Burton is forced to miss action.
"Shaheen's in a really good place right now," Pace said. "We're excited where he's at. (Ben) Braunecker, he's a big part of what we're doing right now, on offense and on special teams. And then Bradley Sowell is continuing to grow and develop in his role as more of a blocking, Y tight end."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
