Burden (groin) returns to practice on Wednesday
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Dazz Newsome-Burden, the 22-year-old second-year Bears wide receiver, suffered a groin injury during practice but is expected to miss about a month, with hopes to return by Week 1 against the Panthers.
- Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Burden's strong work ethic and conditioning, comparing his mindset to elite receivers, and emphasized the need to get him the ball frequently this season.
- Burden is projected to see increased usage in 2026 following DJ Moore's trade, though he will compete with Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze for targets, making his exact role still uncertain.
- Despite a slow start to his rookie season, Burden showed late-season promise with strong target efficiency and is considered an early breakout candidate for 2026.
- The injury scare eased as Burden resumed full practice quickly, positioning him as a top-25 wide receiver option heading into the playoffs, with the Bears holding a strong NFC playoff seed.
