The Chicago Bears added a few veteran candidates to help in the return games this offseason, but when special teams coach Richard Hightower was asked about rookie Luther Burden III, he said he could also be in the mix.
“I see it as an ongoing competition, as we always have at the returner spot,” Hightower said, “so he’ll [Burden] be a candidate.”
It’s, of course, getting some play on social media, but it really was a very nonchalant response from Hightower as he went on to say that they’ll coach up several players to be ready just in case.
“Like I always tell you all, anybody that has a helmet on on gameday has a chance to return, so they’ll all be options back there, and our job is to get them trained.”
The Bears added former Detroit Lions practice squadder Maurice Alexander, six-year veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, and former Pro Bowl returner Devin Duvernay. They also brought back Travis Homer, who has kick return experience, and Josh Blackwell, who had a 94-yard punt return last year on a trick play.
But back to Burden, who had 24 punt returns in college, with one returned for a touchdown, Hightower called him “electric” and said, “He’s a different dude with the ball in his hands. All we’re looking for is playmakers that’ll help us change field position and win games, so that’s what I see in him, along with our other returners that we’ve acquired this offseason.”
Would you like to see Burden returning picks or punts in 2025?