Bears rookie Luther Burden earns trust of quarterback Caleb Williams, and it's paying off in big ways. The Missouri native receiver has been steadily climbing the depth chart over the past few weeks, with his playing time increasing as he proves himself to be a reliable target for Williams.
Burden's breakthrough moment came two weeks ago against the Giants, when he caught a crucial 27-yard pass that put the Bears in field-goal range. Two plays later, Williams scored a touchdown, and Burden's effort was instrumental in securing the win.
Since then, Burden has continued to impress, with his playing time increasing each week. He played a career-high 48.5% of the Bears' offensive snaps against the Giants, and last week he saw 44% of the team's snaps.
Bears coach Ben Johnson praises Burden for his route-running skills and attention to detail, saying that he's "steadily climbed" in terms of his performance on the field. Johnson also notes that Burden has been working hard in practice, which is paying off as he earns more playing time.
Burden himself credits his hard work and dedication for his increased role with the team. He says that "my hard work is starting to pay off," and that he's excited to continue growing alongside quarterback Caleb Williams.
The emergence of Burden and other rookie players like Colston Loveland and Kyle Monangai has been a key part of the Bears' strategy this season. The team took three rookies in the first two rounds, despite needing defensive help, with Johnson hoping that these players would be ready to compete for playing time and target shares as the season wears on.
It's clear that Burden is one player who is making it work, and he'll have a chance to prove himself again this week against the Steelers. With their porous pass defense, the Steelers could be just what Burden needs to break out and take his game to the next level.
Burden's breakthrough moment came two weeks ago against the Giants, when he caught a crucial 27-yard pass that put the Bears in field-goal range. Two plays later, Williams scored a touchdown, and Burden's effort was instrumental in securing the win.
Since then, Burden has continued to impress, with his playing time increasing each week. He played a career-high 48.5% of the Bears' offensive snaps against the Giants, and last week he saw 44% of the team's snaps.
Bears coach Ben Johnson praises Burden for his route-running skills and attention to detail, saying that he's "steadily climbed" in terms of his performance on the field. Johnson also notes that Burden has been working hard in practice, which is paying off as he earns more playing time.
Burden himself credits his hard work and dedication for his increased role with the team. He says that "my hard work is starting to pay off," and that he's excited to continue growing alongside quarterback Caleb Williams.
The emergence of Burden and other rookie players like Colston Loveland and Kyle Monangai has been a key part of the Bears' strategy this season. The team took three rookies in the first two rounds, despite needing defensive help, with Johnson hoping that these players would be ready to compete for playing time and target shares as the season wears on.
It's clear that Burden is one player who is making it work, and he'll have a chance to prove himself again this week against the Steelers. With their porous pass defense, the Steelers could be just what Burden needs to break out and take his game to the next level.