In a stunning and heartbreaking development this evening, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears’ top 2025 draft picks—tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III—may both be facing significant early setbacks before ever taking the field in a regular-season NFL game.
According to Schefter, sources close to the team revealed that Loveland, the ultra-athletic TE out of Michigan, suffered a “potentially serious lower-body injury” during rookie mini-camp. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but early indications suggest the Bears are preparing for the possibility that Loveland could miss substantial time during the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Luther Burden III, the electric playmaker out of Missouri who was expected to bring explosive energy to Chicago’s offense, is reportedly dealing with a personal issue that could require him to step away from football temporarily. Schefter emphasized that the situation is “fluid and sensitive,” and that the Bears are providing full support as Burden navigates the matter.
Both players were hailed as franchise-changing picks in last month’s draft, part of a bold offensive reboot led by GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson. With rookie quarterback Caleb Williams already under intense scrutiny, the potential loss of two top-tier targets could seriously dampen early expectations.
The Bears have not yet issued an official statement, but a press conference is expected within the next 24 hours.
Fans and analysts alike had praised the Bears’ 2025 draft haul as one of the best in the league. Now, with uncertainty clouding two of its brightest stars, Chicago may be forced to adapt—once again.