Chicago Bears: 2 hopeful updates on injured starters

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Chicago Bears: 2 hopeful updates on injured starters

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Aug 29, 2026 5:22 PM ET

The Chicago Bears are preparing to play their final preseason contest of the summer against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday before the front office and coaching staff prepare to trim the roster from 90 players to 53 players by Sunday’s deadline.

The Bears’ early afternoon warmups provided beat writers a chance to see how a few injured players were coming along.

Per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, defensive end Austin Booker was working with trainers on the field at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Also doing some work with the training staff is DE Austin Booker, who suffered a groin injury last week at Cincy,” Biggs posted on X.

Chicago Bears have good news on Luther Burden III

Dec 14, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates after a first down during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Booker was week-to-week with the injury. Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter didn’t make the trip to Tennessee amid a hamstring injury.

The best news of the afternoon was the status of second-year receiver Luther Burden III, who has missed much of training camp due to a groin injury. Per Biggs, Burden was “moving well” during warmups, a promising sign that he should be available for Chicago’s Week 1 contest at the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 13.

“Biggest takeaway watching Bears offensive skill guys work right now is that WR Luther Burden (groin) is moving well,” Biggs said. “Maybe not 100% but he’s running routes and getting in and out of his breaks. That bodes well for potential Week 1 availability two weeks from tomorrow.”

The Bears need Burden and the offense humming early in the season because the defense, already dealing with depth in the secondary and defensive line, has several starters hurt before the final preseason game.

Chicago’s defense cannot be counted on to carry the team early in the season.

Burden, a second-round pick in last year’s draft, could compete with Rome Odunze to be the WR1 on the offense this season.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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