During a radio show, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the quarterback situation this week and replied, “We’ll see how it plays out all week.” This is a murky situation heading into the end of the week as to who will be the signal caller on Sunday against the Jets. Johnson elaborated by saying, “We’ll have a discussion as a coaching staff and we’ll see where we need to go from here … But I said it last week, and I’ll say it again, there was a reason why Tyson [Bagent] ended training camp as our No. 2 quarterback.”
Keenum threw for 247 Yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown last week, reassuring Bears Nation that he can effectively run an NFL offense. However, Tyson Bagent won the QB2 job on the back of a larger play sample throughout training camp and preseason. To maintain a competitive advantage, Johnson is incentivized to wait as long as possible to reveal the name of his Week 4 starter. It is also a nice problem for the Bears offensive weapons Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland to have in Caleb Williams‘ absence.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III was the ...
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III presents as ...
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) is ...
A sigh of relief for Bears fans and fantasy gamers, Tyson Bagent cleared the NFLs concussion protocol and was cleared to practice on Saturday for the Bears final practice session before Monday nights’ game against the Eagles. Bagent is a clear upgrade for the Bears offense.
Per Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT on X, Bagent is the first NFL player to be cleared without going through Steps 4 or 5. Assuming Bagent starts Monday night, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland can be started more confidently. If he is inactive on Monday, the 38-year-old Case Keenum will lead the Bears offense. Keenum would be a significant downgrade for the offense.
It would appear the Bears have dodged a bullet with the Caleb Williams injury, especially given how severe it looked in real time. Tom Pelissero is even reporting the team won’t even rule him out from playing this upcoming Sunday, although this is almost certainly just posturing given that head coach Ben Johnson has publicly said the injury would be a “week to week” situation.
In Williams’ absence, Tyson Bagent will step in at QB1. Bagent held his own in relief duty on Sunday, completing 5-of-9 passes for 54 yards. That included a 21-yard strike to Rome Odunze, followed by an 8 yard pickup to Luther Burden that had Chicago on the doorstep, before a game-ending sack sealed the loss. Assuming Williams is ruled out, Case Keenum will serve as Bears’ QB2 when they face the Eagles on Sunday.
Coaching staff confirmation locks in Luther Burden III for Week 1. This is an elite prospect who posted an 18.7 Breakout Age (94th percentile) and commands a 2.79 Yards Per Route Run (No. 3) profile.
Green light to draft this explosive weapon in the early middle rounds before Ben Johnson’s record-hunting offense fully unleashes his ceiling.
A projected four-week groin recovery timeline threatens his Week 1 availability, injecting real risk into his Year 2 fantasy projection. Regardless of his exact return date, Ben Johnson comparing Luther Burden III to slot dominators Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jarvis Landry highlights his efficiency ceiling, backed by a 2.79 Yards Per Route Run (No. 3) and a 25.6-percent Target Rate (No. 19) as a rookie.
Even once Burden returns, he will likely not be operating at 100% capacity. Treat him as a high-upside pick carrying built-in draft-day volatility. Burden’s fantasy football ranking on PlayerProfiler is WR28 heading into the NFL season.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III dodged a major setback after limping off Saturday’s practice field, with early reports indicating the injury is less severe than first feared. Armed with a 94th-percentile 18.7 Breakout Age and an 86th-percentile Speed Score, Burden steps into an expanded role within Ben Johnson’s offense alongside quarterback Caleb Williams following DJ Moore‘s departure to Buffalo.
Fantasy managers should monitor his practice participation over the coming days to confirm his recovery timeline before drafting him aggressively as a prime Year 2 breakout candidate in fantasy football redraft formats. Burden will continue to hold massive dynasty league value.
