RADIO
Zavion Thomas Sets the Tone by Going 97 Yards on His First NFL Play
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas did not participate in the team's first two preseason outings as he dealt with minor knee soreness earlier in camp, but he wasted no time making his presence felt on Saturday night. Thomas got behind the defense with a double move on the first play of his NFL career and outraced everyone for a 97-yard touchdown to set the tone in a 24-15 win over the Titans. He would finish the night with five catches on five targets and a team-leading 140 yards to go with his game-opening score, showcasing his value as a potential third or fourth receiver in what projects to be a high-powered Chicago offense. The Bears have no lack of playmakers atop the depth chart with second-year pass-catchers Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland and former ninth overall pick Rome Odunze. Still, Thomas' unique skill set could lead to manufactured touches in a gadget role and a path to fantasy relevance. Landing outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players, he is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026 drafts, but his early-season involvement should be monitored, with fantasy managers ready to make a waiver claim.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luther Burden III "Looks 100%", Positive Sign for His Week 1 Availability
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) did not participate in the team's final preseason game as he continues to work his way back from the groin injury that has sidelined him for much of training camp, but following the Bears' 24-15 win over the Titans, head coach Ben Johnson offered some strong reassurance about his Week 1 availability. "He looks 100% to me," Johnson told the media. Burden had been a standout in nearly every session to begin camp, but went down to the ground and left with trainers after getting tangled with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson on August 8th and has not returned to practice since. Following Johnson's latest update, the arrow is pointing back up, and big things are expected of Burden in his second season, making him a potential league-winning selection at his currently discounted ADP of WR24.
Source: Jason Lieser
Source: Jason Lieser
Luther Burden III "Moving Well," Trending Toward Week 1 Availability
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) is "moving well," the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs reported on Saturday. The 2025 second-round pick is "maybe not 100%, but he's running routes and getting in and out of his breaks," Biggs reported. Burden was injured in practice on Aug. 8 and only just returned to individual drills on Aug. 26. The Missouri product caught 47 receptions on 60 targets and had two touchdowns for Chicago in his rookie season in 2025. He is expected to have a larger role alongside Rome Odunze in his sophomore campaign since DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. Burden has breakout potential for 2026, but fantasy managers should keep an eye on his health since his status is not yet confirmed for Week 1. RotoBaller lists him at WR22, and he has a lot of upside if he starts the season healthy.
Source: Brad Biggs
Source: Brad Biggs
Kaden Davis Impressing Coaches, Could Make a Push for Spot Roster Spot
The Chicago Bears signed wide receiver Kaden Davis in mid-June, after he had spent several months with the Houston Gamblers of the UFL, and with training camp winding down, he has made a strong push for a spot on Chicago's initial 53-man roster. An undrafted free agent in 2022, Davis has spent time with the Broncos, Cardinals, and Lions and appeared in three regular-season games for the Browns over the past two seasons. Working primarily as a special teamer, he has been given some run with the first-team offense, and on Wednesday special teams coordinator Richard Hightower couldn't help but sing his praises. "Kaden was a great acquisition that the front office made," he told reporters. "He works his tail off, really a joy to be around... I'm happy and excited to see what he'll bring to the table this week. He'll get more opportunities." The Bears pass-catching group is loaded at the top with tight end Colston Loveland and receivers Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, so even if Davis makes the team, offensive opportunities will be few and far between, but he has become an easy player to root for and should see plenty of involvement in Chicago's preseason finale against the Titans.
Source: Larry Mayer
Source: Larry Mayer
Luther Burden III Gets Light Work in Return From Groin Injury
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) was back on the field Wednesday for the first time since getting injured on Aug. 8, according to Sean Hammond. Burden only took part in a short, light practice, so this wasn't a full return to action, but it's an encouraging step after more than two weeks on the sideline. The Bears previously expected him to miss the entire preseason while hoping to have him available for their Sept. 13 opener against Carolina. Burden remains listed as a starter on Chicago's latest unofficial depth chart after catching 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns across 15 games as a rookie. With DJ Moore traded to Buffalo during the offseason, Burden is positioned for a larger role alongside Rome Odunze in his second season. Wednesday's limited work is a positive sign, though he'll still need to progress beyond a light practice before his Week 1 status can be considered settled.
Source: Sean Hammond
Source: Sean Hammond
Kalif Raymond Making an Impact on Bears' Coaching Staff
Chicago Bears wide receiver/kick returner Kalif Raymond has done nothing but impress his teammates and the coaching staff during training camp this summer, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. "Man, Kalif is amazing," receiver Luther Burden III said. "He's really like a coach out there. He's a great guy on and off the field. You can learn from him. His release package is sick. He's a great guy, and he's out the roof. Kalif is a great leader for the team; he's the guy, man." Raymond has not had more than 300 yards receiving since 2023, but he has established himself as a Hall of Famer in work ethic and vibes, Fishbain writes. "This guy is the most selfless player I've ever been around," head coach Ben Johnson said. Raymond has reunited with Johnson, who was formerly the Lions' passing-game coordinator in 2021, when Raymond had 576 receiving yards and four touchdowns. When Johnson was the offensive coordinator in 2022, Raymond had 616 yards. Raymond has been the recipient of some of the team's most explosive plays this summer after initially being an afterthought signing to compete for the WR3 role behind Burden and Rome Odunze. Speed is what separates the 32-year-old veteran as both a receiver and a kick returner, but barring an injury to Burden or Odunze, Raymond is a hard sell for WR depth in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
Source: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
Rome Odunze Collects Red-Zone Target in First Action
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze caught one of two targets for 18 yards in his team's 27-9 loss to the hosting Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Odunze was a surprise start in this one - along with the rest of the first-string offense that suited up - although he only got a single series of plays. Despite Chicago making it all the way inside the red zone on its first possession, the drive stalled after a holding penalty and three straight incompletions by quarterback Caleb Williams - one of which was intended for the third-year wideout near the end zone. Odunze will face legitimate target competition from fellow wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) and tight end Colston Loveland in the upcoming season. However, the former looked the part of a WR1 at the beginning of 2025, and averaged 7.5 targets per game before a foot injury derailed the back half of his campaign. We'll see if Odunze suits up again for in-game action when Chicago squares off against the Tennessee Titans next Saturday.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kaden Davis Earning Praise from His Quarterback in Training Camp
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams praised wide receiver Kaden Davis by saying that the wideout has "made plays," "been explosive," and "been fun to watch," per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. Davis has appeared in three games over the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns but has yet to record his first NFL catch. However, the 27-year-old led the Bears with 88 receiving yards in the team's preseason opener, and Fishbain reports that Davis got some run with the first-team offense during Chicago's joint practice session with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday. With Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) battling a groin injury, Chicago is looking for depth at the position behind star wideout Rome Odunze. It's still too early for fantasy managers to prioritize Davis, but he could be a name to keep an eye on in deeper leagues.
Source: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
Source: The Athletic - Kevin Fishbain
Luther Burden III Looks "Mostly Fine"
The Chicago Bears were in Cincinnati on Thursday for a joint practice with the Bengals, and while second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) did not participate as he works his way back from the groin injury that has caused him to miss most of training camp, podcast hosts Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns expressed a lack of concern, saying that Burden looks "mostly fine." After a strong finish to his rookie season, Burden was the star of the opening days of training camp before getting tangled with a teammate and exiting practice on August 8. The hope has since been that he would be ready for the team's regular season opener against the Panthers on September 13. While the groin injury has caused an ADP dip in recent weeks, Burden is still RotoBaller's WR22, as all signs pre-injury pointed to the 22-year-old receiver becoming the focal point of a high-powered Bears offense.
Source: Hoge & Jahns
Source: Hoge & Jahns
Rome Odunze's Foot Hasn't Been an Issue
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has had no issues with his foot during training camp. Odunze suffered a foot stress fracture that caused him to miss five games. He didn't sound 100% confident about the injury during the offseason, saying, "He will have to learn to adapt to the new normal." The third-year receiver put all concerns to rest during camp, participating in all 15 practices so far this summer, and said on Tuesday, "I don't think about it." Over his two seasons with the Bears, Odunze has totaled 1,395 yards and nine touchdowns on 98 receptions. Odunze's fantasy value entering the 2026 season is lower than anticipated, as young playmakers Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland have stolen the limelight. With the foot injury not a factor so far, fantasy managers should feel comfortable taking Odunze in the mid-rounds of drafts.
Source: Dan Wiederer - The Athletic
Source: Dan Wiederer - The Athletic
Kaden Davis Busy in Bears Debut, Draws Team High in Targets
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kaden Davis made a strong first impression in Saturday's 34-10 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns. Davis started with most of Chicago's regulars sitting and caught four passes for 88 yards on six targets, tying Maurice Alexander for the team lead in targets. All four of his catches came in the first half, including a 41-yard connection with Tyson Bagent and a pair of 21-yard grabs on the drive that set up Cairo Santos' field goal before halftime. The performance wasn't completely out of nowhere. Davis and Bagent have connected several times during training camp, including on a 70-plus-yard touchdown at Thursday's practice. Chicago signed Davis in June after he spent the spring with the UFL's Houston Gamblers, and he's still fighting for a roster spot in a crowded receiver room. Saturday gave him a real chance to stand out, and 88 yards on six looks certainly helped his case.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luther Burden III Putting in Pre-Game Work
The Chicago Bears face the Cleveland Browns in a Saturday afternoon tilt to open their preseason slate, and while second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) will not take part as he recovers from the groin injury that has held him out of the last week of practices, he was spotted putting in some light work before the game. Without overexerting himself, Burden was seen jogging about 30 yards before slowing to a walk into the end zone. The 22-year-old is not expected to make any preseason appearances, but the team remains hopeful he will be available for the regular-season opener against the Panthers on September 13. Prior to the injury, Burden had generated significant training camp buzz and projects to be a focal point of the Bears' offense in 2026.
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Source: Chris Kwiecinski
Rome Odunze Could Emerge As Bears' WR1
With second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) expected to miss time in the preseason, wideout Rome Odunze has an opportunity to make his case for Chicago's WR1 spot. Odunze hauled in 44 of 90 passes for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games, averaging just over 10 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Odunze had a fantastic start to the 2025 season, averaging over 13 points per game and scoring five touchdowns in the first eight weeks. With D.J. Moore's departure and Burden dealing with an injury that could affect his Week 1 status, Odunze could step into a heavy workload to start the season. Currently ranked WR33 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, the former ninth overall pick could be a great value if he can build on his sophomore season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kalif Raymond Is Becoming More Interesting in Deep Leagues
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond has probably earned a bigger offensive role than most expected when he signed in March. Ben Johnson has praised him throughout the offseason, and Raymond has backed that up in camp, including a 54-yard touchdown from Caleb Williams during an 11-on-11 period. Chicago still lists him behind Rome Odunze on the depth chart, with Luther Burden III starting at the other receiver spot, so the path to steady targets is not especially clean. Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet will be involved too. Raymond also sits atop both return jobs, which guarantees he will have a weekly role even if the offensive touches come and go. He caught 24 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown with Detroit last season, so there is not much recent fantasy production to lean on. RotoBaller has him at WR94, which feels about right for normal redraft leagues. He is more interesting than he was a month ago, but that mostly matters in deep formats or leagues that reward return production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bears' "Sole Focus" is on Building New Stadium in Indiana
Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren said the organization's "sole focus in this point in time" is building a new stadium and development in Hammond, Indiana, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic. Sites for the new stadium are still being explored, though, and conversations with the state of Illinois continue. The Bears' new stadium search has now been ongoing for around five years after the announced plans in September of 2021 to purchase the 326-acre Arlington Park property in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, the former site of Arlington International Racecourse. The sale was finalized in 2023, but the following year, Warren and team officials held a press conference announcing a proposal to build a new stadium on the lakefront in Chicago, just south of Soldier Field. Stadium discussions stalled in the city and suburbs, which led to Indiana lawmakers stepping up their efforts to entice the Bears to move over state lines to Northwest Indiana.
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
