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    Ben Johnson: Burden (hammy) ‘looks 100 percent’

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    CHI Wide Receiver #10
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    Bears coach Ben Johnson said Luther Burden (hamstring) looks “100 percent.”

    This jives with what beat writers reported yesterday, but the coach saying it means we should probably expect Burden to be ready for Week 1. He’s a high-ceiling WR2/WR3 stab in drafts on an offense that Johnson has said wants to set the NFL scoring record.
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  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
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    For the second straight week, Burden was out-produced by Kalif Raymond, who again led the receiver corps in production. D’Andre Swift “led” the entire team in receiving with five receptions for 54 scoreless yards. Burden is now sitting on eight catches for 95 yards through two weeks. It’s not the worst start anyone has ever seen, but fantasy managers were expecting better. It might not be coming in Week 3 if Caleb Williams’ hamstring injury costs him time against the Eagles, which seems highly likely. We are trying not to overreact to small-sample sizes, but Burden is definitely now more of a WR3 than WR2 heading into next Monday’s contest. That, of course, should still have him in most fantasy lineups.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Burden overcame a first quarter fumble on a bubble screen to finish second on the team in targets behind Kalif Raymond, who saw nine looks from Caleb Williams, just as everyone had predicted. While Burden’s 17 percent targets per route run was well below his 2025 rate, he should be more involved going forward in a Bears offense that might be trying to break the NFL’s single season scoring record, as head coach Ben Johnson mentioned in an August interview. Burden will be a top-30 PPR option next week against the Vikings.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #80
    This wouldn’t be news under normal circumstances but takes on additional meaning with Rome Odunze listed questionable for Week 1. It is of particular note that the Bears already have five wide receivers on the active roster and still chose to elevate another. While recent reports seemed to indicate a sense of optimism regarding Odunze’s potential availability, he could be on the wrong side of questionable given the recent transaction. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status when the team releases its inactives 90 minutes prior to first kick. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland would be in line to benefit greatly should Odunze be unable to go.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #15
    Per Hammond, Odunze “came up hobbling during an install period at the start of practice,” with what appeared to be a right leg injury. Apparently, Odunze “wasn’t overly concerned” and tried to continue practicing, but Bears trainers removed him from the field. That last bit is encouraging. Hopefully, Odunze’s Week 1 availability has not been jeopardized. Bears TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden would benefit if Odunze cannot play. Odunze is backed up by WR Kalif Raymond.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Burden returned to practice on Wednesday. On Saturday, Biggs conceded that Burden maybe wasn’t 100% but was moving well while running routes and getting in and out of his breaks. It’s another positive update for Burden, who continues to gain momentum that he’ll be available for Week 1, which is just two weeks away.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    The Chicago Tribune’s Sean Hammond made it clear that this was the first of many steps toward a full return for Burden, but it’s still a good sign that he’s back on the field. With more than two weeks until the Bears’ first game of the season, Burden appears to be on track to play in Week 1. Burden has been going outside the top 20 wide receivers in Best Ball drafts following the injury. That buying window is likely to close as long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks. Burden remains a high-risk, high-reward WR2 bet.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Burden limped off the practice field a week ago and is expected to miss about a month with a groin injury. The injury isn’t considered serious and the hope is that he’ll be active for the Bears first regular season matchup against the Panthers in Week 1. Burden running on the field before the Bears first preseason game was a welcome sight for the organization and fantasy managers alike as the 22-year-old wide receiver appears to be progressing in his recovery.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    It’s not the worst-case scenario, but fantasy managers were likely hoping for a better recovery timeline. The talented second-year player has consistently drawn rave reviews since spring practices. Bears coach Ben Johnson recently compared Burden’s dogged mindset to players he previously coached, including Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and former Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry, noting Burden wants to be “the most conditioned player on the team, and one of the strongest receivers on the team.” Burden will undoubtedly do everything he can to be ready for Week 1, but treating him as questionable to play in the season opener is the prudent move for now. He remains a high-upside pick for 2026, albeit with more built-in risk. Keep it locked to Rotoworld for more updates on Burden’s status in the coming week.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Hopefully, we’ll get a clearer recovery timeline for Burden in the coming days, but it doesn’t sound like things were as bad as people initially feared after he was seen limping off the practice field on Saturday morning. The second-year receiver is expected to see a nice uptick in usage this season after having another year to work with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, and has an easier path to targets with DJ Moore now in Buffalo. We will be sure to check back in with any updates on his injury.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Burden got tangled with a defender and fell awkwardly during a one-on-one red zone drill at practice on Saturday. The 22-year-old wide receiver limped to the locker room slowly with a trainer. It’s unclear if Burden is dealing with a significant injury. We’ll continue to monitor the situation until more information is known.

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    Packers signed G Laken Tomlinson, formerly of the Texans.

    The veteran guard brings significant experience to a Packers team ranked at the bottom of the league in offensive line metrics, including 162 career starts. It’s a no-risk signing in which things could quite literally not get any worse in Green Bay.
  • CHI Quarterback #17
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    Bears HC Ben Johnson told reporters QB Tyson Bagent will practice Saturday.

    With Caleb Williams (hamstring) not expected to play in Week 3’s Monday Night Football showdown against the Eagles, Bagent’s status holds extra weight this week. He missed practice through Friday with a concussion, but has since been cleared to resume practice. He will still need to remain asymptomatic for two consecutive days to fully clear protocol. Bagent would only be a desperation play in super-flex leagues against the Eagles.
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    Lions S Kerby Joseph (knee) is hopeful he’ll be available later this season, reports NFL Insider Tom Pelissero.

    Lions HC Dan Campbell didn’t sound optimistic about the prospects of Joseph, who is dealing with a potentially career-threatening knee cartilage issue, helping the Lions this year. In two separate media appearances in the last week, Campbell said that there wasn’t anything he could say about Joseph that would make anyone “feel good.” Pelissero reported Saturday morning that Joseph, who missed all of training camp and hasn’t played since last year’s Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, is hopeful he’ll be available to help the Lions down the stretch. While that may be the case, whether Joseph is able to return to play this year remains an open question. Without Joseph and S Brian Branch (Achilles), the Lions are severely shorthanded in the backend heading into Week 3’s home matchup against the Jets.
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    The Giants could trade for a QB in the wake of Jaxson Dart’s injury by Monday, reports NFL Insider Tom Pelissero.

    According to Pelissero, Giants GM Joe Schoen is “working the phones” and a trade could be done as soon as Monday. The Giants gave Dart’s backup Jameis Winston a two-year contract extension just before the start of the regular season. While the Giants are looking to add to their quarterback depth, it seems unlikely that whoever they acquire at this point would be able to unseat Winston as the starter immediately. New York takes on Tennessee in Week 3 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
  • BAL Wide Receiver #4
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    Zay Flowers (hamstring) will likely be on a snap count if active for Week 3 against the Cowboys, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

    Flowers missed Week 2’s loss to the Saints with a hamstring injury after catching five passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 victory over the Colts. Rashod Bateman stepped up as the Ravens’ leading receiver with Flowers out in Week 2. That would likely be the case again if Flowers is held out. As Fowler reports, Flowers would likely be on a snap count if he’s active against the Cowboys in Week 3, which would seem to muddy things for both his and Bateman’s fantasy prospects against the Cowboys. Baltimore takes on Dallas Sunday afternoon at Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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    Lions RT Blake Miller (knee) is not on the injury report for Week 3 against the Jets.

    Lions LG Christian Mahogany (hip) will also make his return after a week-long absence, and RG Tate Ratledge (elbow) is good to go after two limited sessions early in the week. The Lions’ starting offensive line’s health is improving. Backup OG Ben Bartch (foot) has been ruled out.
  • KC Defensive Tackle #95
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    Chiefs DT Chris Jones (calf) is not on the injury report for Week 3 against the Dolphins.

    The Chiefs kept Jones limited in all three practices this week, so this injury isn’t totally behind him yet. Regardless, he should have a productive day against the Dolphins’ offense this week.
  • SF Wide Receiver #5
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said “it seems like” 49ers WR Mike Evans (hip) “has a pretty good chance” to play in Week 3 against the Cardinals.

    Rapoport made the statement, and then immediately referenced 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s comments earlier this week, when he said Evans had a “good” chance to play this week, so it is unclear if Rapoport is actually breaking news. That said, no news is good news. If the NFL Network star had learned something contradictory, we would have heard about it. Evans returned to practice in a limited capacity today. Stay tuned for updates and treat him as a WR2 for the time being.
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) is unlikely to play in Week 4 against the Colts.

    Frankly, this report comes off as more of a recap than breaking news. The Commanders do not yet know when Daniels will return, though they are optimistic that he will miss fewer than four games. According to Rapoport, the goal is to get him back “as soon as possible” and “as safe as possible.” Backup QB
    Marcus Mariota

    will start in his stead.
  • MIN Running Back #31
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    Vikings RB DeeJay Dallas (toe) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 3 against the Buccaneers.

    Dallas and starting RB Aaron Jones (knee) both practiced in full on Friday. Jones will handle the majority of the backfield’s touches while Dallas takes a few carries and plays some on passing downs.