Over halfway into the 2025 season, calls for the Chicago Bears to give rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III may be getting too loud to ignore.
Perhaps that’s because the argument for increasing Burden’s role is growing stronger by the week.
The Bears’ veteran counterpart in the slot, Olamide Zaccheaus, has been a favorite target of quarterback Caleb Williams, but his 7.8 yards per catch is significantly less than Burden’s 13.9 average.
After the Bears’ Week 10 win over the New York Giants, which featured several drops from Zaccheaus and a few big plays from Burden, Bears coach Ben Johnson says the rookie wideout could be seeing the field much more in the second half of season.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Comments on Starting Luther Burden Over Olamide Zaccheaus
GettyWide receiver Luther Burden III of the Chicago Bears could be ready to take over Olamide Zaccheaus’ spot in the lineup.
“You’ve slowly seen his rep count go up,” head coach Ben Johnson said about Burden on November 9. “He’s the guy that’s starting to get more targets. It’s a trust level between the coaches and the player. It’s a trust level between the quarterback and a receiver. It continues to ascend. And so, he’s been very productive when we’ve been able to get the ball in his hands, and there’s a strong argument that we should get it to him more.”
Burden arrived in Chicago after a standout collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers. Over three seasons at Mizzou, he had 192 catches for 2,263 yards, netting 11.8 yards per catch. He also had 21 receiving touchdowns.
In his 2023 campaign alone, he amassed 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine scores, the best receiving output of his college tenure. At the 2025 NFL Combine, he showcased his elite speed with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, reaching a top speed of 22.8 mph.
So far as a rookie this season, Burden has shown some definite flashes. He has caught 16 of the 18 passes thrown his way (that’s an incredible 88.9% catch percentage), and his 136.4 passer rating when targeted leads the team. His stats are modest — he has 16 grabs for 222 yards and a TD — but considering how little he has been used, that’s to be expected.
A Closer Look at the Chicago Bears WRs Room Heading Into Week 11
With wideouts DJ Moore and Rome Odunze commanding significant attention, the Bears’ WR3 role has been Zaccheaus’s thus far this season. OZ has played 353 offensive snaps, starting three games, while Burden has played 144 snaps with one start. Zaccheaus has 32 catches for 248 yards and a score. Considering he has played half the snaps but still has similar stats to OZ, it’s fair to suggest Chicago’s offense could get an additional boost if Burden sees the field more.
The gap between Burden’s yards per reception and Zaccheaus’s is the most glaring comp. With the rookie averaging almost twice what OZ is per catch, there’s no doubt the playmaking ability is there.
Burden has got the quickness to get separation, he can change direction on a dime and at 6-foot and 210 pounds, he can absorb contact and keep going rather than simply evading defenders. The Bears didn’t take him in the second round to keep him on the bench all year. Trust takes time, and if Johnson’s recent comments are any indicator, Burden is earning that trust and will likely see more playing time moving forward.
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