Anyway, Luther Burden III returned for the Bears after a week away due to an ankle injury. And this game against the 49ers — on a national stage against a fellow playoff team with the Bears no. 1 receiver out — offered Burden’s best chance yet to claim his spot as a future keystone of the Bears.

Watch the best plays from Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III's 138-yard game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season.

In his second NFL regular-season game, Theo Wease Jr. sprinted to his first touchdown. The former Missouri wide receiver caught a pass from fellow rookie Quinn Ewers on the left side of the field Sunday,

Caleb Williams connected with rookie receiver Luther Burden for a 35-yard touchdown pass, making the score 14-14 with 2:58 left in the first quarter. The throw and catch capped a five-play, 77-yard drive that took just 1:54 off the clock.

Luther Burden III (ankle) will play in Week 17 at San Francisco after missing Week 16 against Green Bay, and I like him as a borderline starter in all leagues. He has the chance for a big game against the 49ers.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III catches a short pass from quarterback Caleb Williams for a 14-yard gain on ankle-breaking play.

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.

The Bears head to the Bay Area to take on the 49ers on Sunday night in a battle between two NFC heavyweights . While star receiver Rome Odunze will miss another game with a stress fracture in his foot, Chicago got some good news on the injury front in their pass-catching corps.