Bear Digest

Luther Burden back at practice but defensive injury is now an issue

Wide receiver Luther Burden was able to go through a limited practice Wednesday for the Bears, but now they have several other injuries including a few on defense.
Gene Chamberlain|
Receiver Luther Burden's return is possible this week after an ankle injury, as he was able to practice Wednesday.
Receiver Luther Burden's return is possible this week after an ankle injury, as he was able to practice Wednesday. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

The Bears had a vital part of their offense back practicing on Wednesday, although it's no guarantee of availability for Sunday's game with San Francisco.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III returned to practice from an ankle injury on a limited basis, but the Bear had several other injury issues pop up on this week's first injury report, as well as illness.

Wide receiver Devin Duvernay, linebacker D'Marco Jackson and cornerback Nick McCloud all were ill and missed practice while linebacker T.J. Edwards missed practice with a glute injury.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze remained out with a foot injury after missing the last  three games.

Burden's return would provide needed speed and the ability to catch passes after  drops and lack of yards after the catch hurt the Bears against Green Bay on Saturday. Burden had 23 catches for 308 yards in his previous five games before missing the second game against the Packers.

Several other player had injuries that kept them sidelined for at least a portion of practice and will be watched closely on Friday when they practice again.

Safety Kevin Byard, running back Travis Homer and center Drew Dalman have ankle injuries. Dalman also has a hand injury, which is never great for a center.

The knee injury to slot cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson from Saturday's game wasn't severe enough to keep him from practicing on a limited basis. He hurt the knee at the end of the touchdown pass Green Bay scored to Romeo Doubs.

Also, cornerback Nahshon Wright and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga have hamstring injuries that limited their availability. Wright obviously would be a big loss after all of the turnovers he has been generating. He's at eight for the year, including five intereceptions. Guard Luke Newman, who is on injured reserve with a foot injury, had his window opened for return and went through a limited practice.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.