On a hot and humid day at Lake Forest, the Chicago Bears hit the field in full pads for the first time this offseason. The big news of the day was rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III returning to action after missing time with a soft tissue injury. Though he wasn’t a full participant, Burden appeared energetic and sharp in clips shared online, as the Bears gradually eased him back into team drills—consistent with how they’ve handled other recovering players.
There were several updates on the injury front as well:
Doug Kramer, who suffered an injury during the previous practice, was absent from the field. The team listed him as day-to-day with a leg issue.
Rookie Zah Frazier and Shemar Turner were also not present. Frazier is away dealing with a personal matter, while Turner continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Rookie Luke Newman took reps with the second-team offense at center, likely in response to Kramer’s absence.
Unfortunately, not all the news was positive. Defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon had to be carted off the field due to what’s believed to be a hand or wrist injury. Additionally, offensive lineman Bill Murray exited practice limping and had his right ankle wrapped by trainers.
The day marked several turning points for the Bears’ training camp—some encouraging, some concerning—as the team continues to evaluate its roster and build momentum heading into preseason.
