Luther Burden III has monster first half against Patriots on Thursday Night Football
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Luther Burden III came to play for the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football.
The former Mizzou star and his teammates are facing off against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field, with both teams at 4-2. After missing two games, Caleb Williams returned to lead the Bears past the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, throwing for 305 yards on 30-of-36 passing. Burden led all receivers with eight catches and 95 yards.
Four days later, Williams is at it again. So is Burden, in fact. Williams threw for 167 yards in the first half against the Patriots. Burden has made four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.
That touchdown came with 14 seconds remaining in the half and with Chicago facing a 3rd-and-17 at the New England 24. Williams hit Burden with a screen, and Burden did the rest as he evaded Patriots defenders all the way to the end zone:
LB3 is having a GAME! 🔥 @lutherburden3 pic.twitter.com/q75Xd8GP0p
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) October 23, 2026
As a rookie, Burden made 47 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns. He entered Thursday with 361 yards and a touchdown on 31 catches through six games.
The Bears took Burden early in the second round of the 2025 draft after a terrific career at Mizzou. That decision still looks like a good one as Burden is increasingly becoming a focal point in Chicago’s offense.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
